Post by Airy Yeh on Sept 16, 2015 23:31:55 GMT
"In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom" by Sakaguchi Ango is interesting because the story is extremely unreal. I couldn't help but wonder if it was a delusion or a hallucination. A few parts of the story were indeed delusional, as evidenced by the woman playing with "the heads" taken from the humans the bandit had killed. The woman's play with these heads gives off a sick, grotesque aura to the story, for no one in their right mind would do such a thing. The bandit's confusion at his own thoughts over "the endless repetition of light and darkness" hints that his experiences are highly related to what is inside of his mind rather than to something in the real world. (p.200) This delusional setting is especially clear at the end of the story, where the beautiful woman turns into a "huge-faced old woman with purple skin," a demon. Yet the demon turns back into the beautiful woman after he kills her, then along with the woman and the cherry petals, the bandit's body vanishes. The story sheds light into the plight of the human psyche as one becomes completely lonely. Perhaps it was all in the bandit's imagination that came out of the human mind's last resort to fight loneliness.
The theme of loneliness is eloquently portrayed. At the end of the story the bandit identifies himself as "loneliness itself," for now that the woman is gone there is no one he may converse with and he is totally alone in the cherry blossoms. (p. 201) As the bandit's feelings arise on page 201 and he appears as a vulnerable human being, the story reveals itself as one of sadness and excruciating loneliness. These feelings are associated with death and loss. At first I was perplexed because I had never imagined cherry blossoms with negative connotations such as fear, disgust, and loneliness. Cherry blossoms are beautiful, and people gather under them to party and enjoy the scenic festivity. Perhaps because it is so commonly associated with company and friendship that the exact opposite; sadness and loneliness, is so well emphasized. In the Japanese culture, one would feel especially lonely if they find themselves alone under cherry blossoms in full bloom because it is strange to not be with a company. The contrast between the usual happiness associated with cherry blossoms and the loneliness portrayed by the cherry trees in the story is valuable as a strong expression of the bandit's feelings of sadness and loneliness.
"Even now, no one knows the secret of the cherry forest in full bloom," and perhaps there is no need to find out. It is a literary art and its purpose was for expression. After all the bodies and petals vanish, there is "emptiness," and "nothing more." (p.201) After death, there is nothing alive that is able to feel anything including loneliness. The author does not delve into the topic of afterlife, so the secret remains as something unfathomable to those left behind, including the reader. Perhaps Shintoism plays a role here. A god of cherry blossoms might know the answer to the secret, but no one will find out.
Question: Would you say that there is mujo in this story? If so, how?
The theme of loneliness is eloquently portrayed. At the end of the story the bandit identifies himself as "loneliness itself," for now that the woman is gone there is no one he may converse with and he is totally alone in the cherry blossoms. (p. 201) As the bandit's feelings arise on page 201 and he appears as a vulnerable human being, the story reveals itself as one of sadness and excruciating loneliness. These feelings are associated with death and loss. At first I was perplexed because I had never imagined cherry blossoms with negative connotations such as fear, disgust, and loneliness. Cherry blossoms are beautiful, and people gather under them to party and enjoy the scenic festivity. Perhaps because it is so commonly associated with company and friendship that the exact opposite; sadness and loneliness, is so well emphasized. In the Japanese culture, one would feel especially lonely if they find themselves alone under cherry blossoms in full bloom because it is strange to not be with a company. The contrast between the usual happiness associated with cherry blossoms and the loneliness portrayed by the cherry trees in the story is valuable as a strong expression of the bandit's feelings of sadness and loneliness.
"Even now, no one knows the secret of the cherry forest in full bloom," and perhaps there is no need to find out. It is a literary art and its purpose was for expression. After all the bodies and petals vanish, there is "emptiness," and "nothing more." (p.201) After death, there is nothing alive that is able to feel anything including loneliness. The author does not delve into the topic of afterlife, so the secret remains as something unfathomable to those left behind, including the reader. Perhaps Shintoism plays a role here. A god of cherry blossoms might know the answer to the secret, but no one will find out.
Question: Would you say that there is mujo in this story? If so, how?