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in Ukigumo the social effects of the Meiji Restoration on the lives of ordinary people. The main character, Utsumi Bunzō, a son of a former warrior, finds a civil service appointment after graduating from a college where he had been sent on a scholarship. For the sake of convenience Bunzō decides to leave his widowed mother in their home in Shizuoka Province and take up temporary lodgings in his uncle's home in Tokyo until such time as he finds a suitable home to which he can bring his mother. Most of the time his uncle, who is a brother of Bunzō's father, is away from home managing a business in Yokohama, leaving his wife O-Masa and their daughter O-Sei at home. Soon Bunzō and O-Sei are attracted to each other; this situation pleases both the uncle and aunt as they hope to marry their daughter in the not too distant future to their educated and filial nephew. But this desire for their daughter's marriage to Bunzō cools after the aunt hears that Bunzō has been discharged from his position. She now thinks that Honda, a co-worker of Bunzō, a man of pleasing manners and practical outlook, might perhaps be a better suitor for O-Sei.
At this point in the story Futabatei clearly shows the characteristic differences between Bunzō and his fellow worker Honda. Honda, while appearing to be a good fellow, has in reality an underhanded disposition, as he is shown to be constantly praising his superior and placing him on a pedestal. Sometimes Honda will even overpraise his superior for the most trivial matters. This attitude enables Honda to improve his position; he receives a promotion. Futabatei, while criticizing Honda, brings out the good points of
