30
Tokio Takenaka, the principal character of Futon, is a novelist. He is assisting in the editing of geographical books as a part-time employee of a publishing company. Although he engages in this work by claiming to have an interest in geography, in his mind he does not feel at ease with this kind of employment. Needless to say, when he reflects on his lagging literary career, he cannot help but feel bitter about his job. Tokio realizes that he is sacrificing his literary ambition solely to earn a living for his family; however, it worries him to know that his wife does not understand his work nor does she take time to appreciate what he is trying to accomplish. Their children are the main concern of his wife and she, in turn, is the only one who is loved by their children. Tokio cannot find peace in his home nor contentment in his work. This situation results in his being unable to throw himself wholeheartedly into his lifework, writing.
This outline of Futon shows that Katai has adopted conditions for his character, Tokio, similar to those used by Hauptmann in creating Johannes Vockerat before Johannes met Anna Mahr. The difference is in their treatment of themes. Hauptmann treats emotional conflicts among individual members of the Vockerat family with equal weight, while Katai solely describes the mental state of his principal character Tokio. In delineating Tokio's lonely life, Katai seems to be trying to demonstrate that ambition and striving for fulfillment are quite natural and that the constant drudgery imposed upon a bread-winner is very unnatural and depressing. He asserts that if a man is compelled to take a job for the support of his family, and if his wife never shows any appreciation for his efforts on their behalf, then it is a natural consequence for him to start looking for consolation from others.
