Lemon by Kajii Motohiro

In "Lemon," by Kajii Motohiro, we see a man with tuberculosis whose life seems dreary and hopeless. However, after his encounter with a lemon, his whole life suddenly becomes brighter and liveilier as if his melancholia just miraculously disappears. The lemon and its bright, yellow color seems to represent happiness and hope. It has replaced his desolate and bleak life with a life filled with vitality and optimism. In addition, the lemon appears to have a purifying and invigorating effect as it not only heals his physical symptoms of tuberculosis, but also his fears of the Maruzen department and its intoxicating scent of perfume and tobacco (which may be the very cause for his tuberculosis).

Discussion Question: What is the significance/symbolism of the narrator placing the lemon on top of the books, creating a castle-like tower?