Question

the reincarnation of tama
by yei theodora ozaki (excerpt)
(1) many years ago in yedo, in the district of fukagawa, there lived a rich timber merchant. after many years the merchants wife at last gave birth to a daughter. both parents rejoiced that the gods had answered their prayers. they reared the child with great care, likening her to a precious gem held tenderly in both hands, and they named her tama, the jewel.
(2) when she reached the age of sixteen her parents thought it was time to seek a suitable bridegroom for her. however, it proved exceedingly difficult to find anyone who would meet all their requirements.
(3) now it happened that near - by in a small house there lived a man by the name of hayashi. he was a provincial samurai, but for some reason or other had left his daimios domain and settled in yedo. his wife was long since dead, but he had an only son whom he educated in the refinements of the military class. the family was a poor one, for all samurai were trained to hold poverty in high esteem, and to despise trade and money - making.
(4) at the time this story opens the elder hayashi had just died and the son, though only nineteen years of age, carried on his fathers work.
(5) he often passed the rich merchants house and tama, the jewel, noticed the young man coming and going with his flute. questioning her nurse, she learned all there was to know about his history, his poverty, his scholarly attainments, his skill as a musician and the recent sorrow he had sustained in the death of his father.
(6) besides being attracted by his good looks, the beautiful tamas heart went out in sympathy to the young man in his misfortune and loneliness, and she asked her mother to invite him to the house as her music - master, so that they might play duets together—he performing on the flute to her accompaniment on the koto
select the correct answer
which sentence best states how the character of hayashi develops over the course of the text?
a. hayashi falls in love with tama, but he leaves due to his fear of her parents anger
b. hayashi believes he is in love with tama, but he realizes she is not the one for him
c. hayashi struggles with his feelings for tama, but he realizes that she is worth fighting for
d. hayashi is insecure about his social status, but he works hard to demonstrate his value

Explanation:

In the story, Hayashi's feelings for Tama are complex. There is no indication that he leaves due to fear of her parents' anger (A is wrong). There is no text - based evidence that he realizes she is not the one (B is wrong). There is no mention of his social - status insecurities and working hard to demonstrate value (D is wrong). The text implies that there are difficulties (like their different social positions, as Tama is from a rich merchant family and Hayashi is a poor samurai descendant). But the fact that they start having musical duets (Tama inviting him as a music - master) shows that despite the struggles (implied by the difficulties in finding a bridegroom for Tama and their different social standings), he realizes she is worth it.

Answer:

C. Hayashi struggles with his feelings for Tama, but he realizes that she is worth fighting for