Consider the complex character Tajima Shume in “Tajima.” How do Tajima’s actions and interactions advance the plot and develop a theme in the story? In your response, describe a theme of the story and explain how the author uses characterization to develop the theme and advance the plot. Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be at least three complete paragraphs.

Tajima was a ronin who was well-read and also loved traveling. On one of his travels, he met with a wandering priest and found out they were going the same place and they struck up a conversation to make their journey smoother and before long they were talking about more intimate affairs.

The priest tells the ronin Tajima about his desire to erect a monument for Buddha and how much he has gotten so far which was two hundred ounces of silver. Tajima immediately has it in his heart that he must have possession of that money.

During a boat ride, Tajima tripped the priest and he fell over and drowned.

Taking the priest's money, he took on a new name Tokubei and began trading with the money and soon amassed great wealth

Three years after, he began to be haunted by the ghost of the priest until he was thought to be mad.

A nearby priest was called to attend to Tokubei and it was discovered that the priest didn't drown all along but survived and forgave Tokubei and asked him to repent. Tokubei gave him the money he stole plus interest and lived happily after.

The theme of the story is "Poverty drives a man to crimes which he repents of in his wealth."

The author used indirect characterization

*a ronin is a samurai without a master, without honor.

b

explanation: