In the Takekurabe, it seems like there is no clear classes compared to Edo period. However, the new class showed up by their wealth-even the living place is divided by the wealth. If people have money, they can go to fancy schools. Criteria for classifying people are how much money they have, and whether they are intelligent or not. For instance, Chokichi asked Nobu to join their group in order to show off that Nobu is on his side. He unusually speak to Nobu softly. He admires Nobu because of Nobu’s intelligence and what Nobu has.
It is clearly described the power of money. Chokichi is so proud of himself and believe on his father’s power of wealth. Even though Sangoro was punched by Chokichi with no reasons, he can’t fight against Chokichi since Chokichi’s father owns his house. Also, a shopkeeper’s wife gossiped on Shota’s grandmother, “We can’t even hold our heads up to her-that’s the power of money. They say she even lends to the big houses in the quarter.” In addition, at this point, Daimyo and Samurai no longer exists, people own houses and lend it to others and policemen police the village.…show more content… In the book the words which created newly mentioned such as oil dealers, perfume, jackets are showing that the new period has started. Most visible change during Meiji period is western influence. In the Takekurabe, stuffs from western keep mentioning such as dark blue stockings, a baroque coiffure. It is clear that people during Meiji period have a fantasy on Europe. Meiji government sent the elites to western. The author of Maihime was also sent to Germany by government. Even though he graduated from university in Japan, he has learned French and German. When he got to German university, he expected there would be a chance of providing special courses for would-be politicians. It shows that people in Meiji period absolutely had a fantasy on western
