I really enjoyed this story. Even though the title of the story is The Barrelmaker Brimful of Love, I would say that Osen is the main character of the story. I would consider Osen a very lucky girl. She was sent off by her parents to be a servant, which is unlucky, but she was blessed with fair masters. On page 591, it states, “Later she was allowed free access to the inner storeroom where all the fine things are kept.” I think her charming personality and beauty also played a factor in the privileges she received. After she marries the cooper; she seems to be the perfect wife. The story made me believe that it would end happily ever after. But, like in all good stories, a twist happens. After the rumor mill started, Osen decided to get even. I can understand. If someone spread rumors of infidelity about me, I would be mad too. What I don’t understand is why she tried to act out on her revenge in the house where her husband was. Common sense is a needed attribute when trying to cheat on your husband.
The old, magical lady was very interesting to me. “However, as she sank lower and lower in the social scale she learned the lesson of karma and she thought more about the future life.” (592) I can tell a lot about the old woman from the line in the story. The story says she was an abortionist. According to this quote, abortionists were very low members of society. This probably prevented her of marrying anyone. So why would a lonely, old, former abortionist want to help a random guy that she met at a festival? I think she wanted to help the cooper to redeem herself. I don’t know what made her decide that she had the skill set to become a matchmaker, but I can’t blame her for trying.
Another character in the story is the cooper. I fell a little sorry for the cooper. He pines over Osen, sending her hundred of love letters. Then he goes on a road trip with her and has to fight for her the whole way. He finally gets to marry the girl of his dreams (how many times does that happen?) only for her to cheat on him and kil herself. I would say that the cooper is the nice guy that finishes last in this story.
I also found myself feeling sorry for the cooper because he fought so hard to gain her love. I felt that she loved him back but her emotions got the best of her when the lady of the house accused her of sleeping with the Master. Although I felt a little sorrow for the cooper in the end when Osen cheated on him, I also could see her side as well. Because women in that time period would be put to death after cheating on their husbands, she probably felt that her word would mean nothing against the other woman's accusations. I'm sure it boiled Osen's blood when she tried give the explanation of what happened to her hair and the Master's wife simply replied, "What a playful bowl that must be. If you ask me, somebody fell into bed without going to sleep and her hair came undone" (Saikaku 602). There were no incidents in the past that would even give the Master's wife reason to suggest such a thing.
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