Kelly Tazzi
             Lit 212
             Professor Bender
             February 19, 2000
            
            
             Friendships, to Trust or not to Trust?
             In the short stories, "Separate Ways," by Higuchi Ichiyo, and "Uncanny Stories from the Scholar's Studio," by SongLing, the two pieces both demonstrate the limits, high and low, of friendship. Mrs. Chu and Mrs. Heng have a loving friendship, but not being able to trust is their downfall. Okyo and Kichizo also have a very loving and caring friendship, but money and riches overpowers their friendship in the end.
             Mrs. Chu, and Mrs. Heng, in "Uncanny Stories..." show a most admirable fulfilling friendship. Mrs. Chu was driven into the arms of a friend, after feeling deprived of her husband who spent most his days with his concubine. Mrs. Chu took a liking to Mrs. Heng, a neighbor. Mrs. Heng has an experience similar to that of Mr. Chu with her husband's concubine, although the Heng's never showed any signs of quarrels or discord in their household. This struck Mrs. Chu with an interest, because she wanted to know how her relationship with her husband could be brought back to a good situation. As the weeks and months passed by, the time the two women spent together increased. Mrs. Heng would give good advice as to how Mrs. Chu should approach her situation, and what she should do. Mrs. Chu followed all the orders, and as time passed, everything seemed to be working out as planned. Mrs. Chu regained the love and affection that she so badly wanted, and she gave all the thanks to Mrs. Heng. As the years passed, the two remained intimate friends.
             In contrast to the admirable friendship the two ladies portrayed, I also believe their friendship has low limits. The whole time Mrs. Chu and Mrs. Heng were intimate friends, Mrs. Heng had a secret hidden. "We to like each other as much as if we had one body...Now however we must part, so I may dare to tell you the truth. You see, I a...