Preview

Rr Shawl

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
11916 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Rr Shawl
Psychological Analysis of Rashomon
Psychological Analysis of Rashomon

Rashomon, by Ryunosaki Akutaguya provides great insight into the psychological discord that the Japanese culture was undergoing in the early part of the twentieth century. Japan was in the throes of a societal transformation, from a traditional, religious-based society, to a newly adopted weternized culture. Japan was rapidly assimilating industrial and scientific techniques and philosophies that were in conflict with, and were replacing traditional ways of life. Akutaguwa illustrates this with his opening two paragraphs where he shows the once proud and majestic Rashomon Gate, a religious monument, abandoned and in ruins. As we enter the story, it is raining, (symbolic of transformation or rebirth) and the author describes the city of Kyoto having undergone a series of calamities; earthquakes, fires and tornadoes which have left Kyoto in a state of decline. This image is put side by side with the Samurai’s servant, whose master, once prosperous, is wealthy no longer. The servant, therefore, has been discharged and is out on the street. Psychologically, the imagery of the first two paragraphs is important. The religious artifacts, once richly decorated with gold and silver, no longer proudly represent old Japan. The gold and silver has “worn off” and the statues, which themselves represent the collectivist mindset and values, are being chopped up and “sold” as firewood. This represents a westernized psychological mindset that everything is for sale, including the Japanese people’s once- idealized values. The Rashomon itself is now a repository for the Kyoto dead, symbolically, those who cannot adapt to the new psychology and values taking over Japan.

The current states of the city and the Rashomon Gate sets the stage for the servant’s internal psychological struggle. We meet the servant, his once fine clothes are now “worn thin” just like the the gold of the icons. Discharged from his

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Paul Varley's Loser-Hero

    • 1420 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In the book “Warriors of Japan as Portrayed in the War Tales”, as the title suggests, author Paul Varley studies numerous war tales from hundreds of years of Japanese history, throughout the rise of the samurai warrior culture and the societal change that went along with it. From ancient war tales like the Shōmonki to tales firmly in the medieval times like the Taiheiki, the changes in battlefield customs and warrior society are presented and studied as they change and evolve. Despite all the social changes occurring in these time periods, a certain element stays the same throughout all these tales, the warriors themselves.…

    • 1420 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Samurai William

    • 1724 Words
    • 7 Pages

    In Giles Milton’s novel, Samurai William, the reader is taken to the other side of the globe to experience the history of old world Japan. Though out the book, Milton provides reason for complex historical events and actions, while still communicating the subtleties and mysterious customs of the Japanese. The novel also closely examines the wide range of relationships between different groups of Europeans and Asians, predominantly revolving around the protagonist, William Adams. The book documents the successes and failures that occur between the two civilizations, then links them back to either the positive or negative relationship they have. As the book goes on, the correlation is obvious. Milton shows us the extreme role that religion, etiquette and trade played in establishing positive relations between visiting Europeans and the Asian civilizations.…

    • 1724 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Gregory Smith in his essay, “Shaking up Japan: Edo Society and the 1855 Catfish Picture Prints”, focuses on the state of political consciousness among the Edo commoners in 1855, which is when the Ansei Earthquake struck Japan. The author explains the social and political devastation the Japanese society experiences. The traumatic event led to a Japanese Urban Society politically and socially weakening. Subsequently, within the following twelve years, caused a social awakening and proto-nationalism: the Meiji Restoration. Under the Tokugawa Shogun and Bakufu, social class with principles indistinguishable…

    • 1832 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Izanami Chapter Summary

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages

    This book chronicles the emergence of Shintoism and the transplantation of Buddhism into the Japanese soil by narrating the exploits of the Deities who create the country and the feats of medieval warriors who change forever the fabric of the Japanese society. The Deities IZANAGI and IZANAMI are appointed by their superiors of Heaven, the incumbents of the creation of a new world and should procreate to start a new dynasty on Earth. During the procreation phase, Izanami dies by giving birth to the God of Fire.…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Kyoto at midnight is an astonishing sight, like Paris. The streets are filled with people on their way to and from cultural events. Some are wearing kimono, others are in Armani or Yamamoto. Kyoto's is a very different sensibility from that of fast-paced, ultra-modern, development-minded" Tokyo.…

    • 1530 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    N/A. Nakasendoway: A Journey to the Heart of Japan. 17 July 2011. October 2011 .…

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The story takes place in a time where Japan is transforming from a land with many influences and civil war to a nation that is unified under a leader that is bent on keeping Japanese traditions alive.…

    • 758 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The eerie chime of the ebony clock never fails to strike fear in the guest of the prince’s ball. The purpose of the prince’s seclusion to his castle is not only an effort to save himself, but also to simply forget the tragedy occurring in his lands. To produce a world without…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In “Confucius Lives Next Door” the author, T. R. Reid, was a bureau chief for Washington Post’s Tokyo bureau. He wrote about his family’s experiences and observations while living there. He saw their culture as a social miracle when he stated “We found a general state of civility, of stability, of public safety.” (Reid 7) I was intrigued by the information provided about things about the culture that allowed people to thrive.…

    • 1768 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    By the year 1931, one in three New Yorkers were unemployed. According to Oren Harman in his book “ The Price of Altruism” words “…roughly 1.6 on some form of relief.” New York hit rock bottom when it peaks the most between 1932 and 1933. The Great Depression was an economic crash lasting from 1929 to 1939, it didn’t have much effect on the rashly rich, but it took its tolls on everyone else, especially New Yorkers who had the hell of it.…

    • 1283 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhapsody on a Windy Night

    • 573 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The loss of affection throughout the poem is seen as a one of the most significant resulting in various forms of alienation. A prime example of such a theme can be seen through the image of the prostitute within the poetry.…

    • 573 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shinto Research Paper

    • 1490 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The bones of religion were conceived the moment man first walked the Earth. It has provided comfort to loneliness, answers to the unknown and euphoria with a fulfilling experience. Much like humanity, religion varies, thrives and changes with history. Japan is a land rich in a variety of topography. It is a country abundant in islands, containing lush environments of mountain peaks, volcanic ranges, sweet cherry blossoms, and a history deeply embedded in its indigenous legends (Piggott 11-12). Nothing details this more than its religion, so ancient its songs has ringed bells for a millennium. Shinto has thrived since the Common Era, carrying with it a deep connection to nature to a time wherein humanity has forgotten the root of its existence.…

    • 1490 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The ruined city had flourished and had been an inviting target mainly because it had been one of the most important military command and communications’ centers in Japan, and would have become the Imperial headquarters had the island been invaded and Tokyo been captured. Now there…

    • 987 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    “As we got off the bus, we found ourselves in a large area amidst a sea of friendly Japanese faces, “, stated by a once twelve-year old Nisei Florence Miho Nakamura in her account of her internment camp experience (Tong, 3). This initial experience was common among many Japanese, as they were uprooted from their homes and relocated to government land. Although, they had been asked to leave their homes and American way of life, many had no idea of what was to greet them on the other side. As a result of the unknown, many Japanese had no time to prepare themselves for the harshness and scrutiny they faced in the internment camps. Interment camps not only took a toll on the Japanese physically, but also emotionally; thus, resulting in a shift in their overall lives. The novel When the Emperor was Divine explores the loss of self, physical, and cultural/social identity among the Japanese during World War II.…

    • 2721 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The First Samurai

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Japan in the 10th century was experiencing change and disorder as its relatively new central government sought techniques for a strong and enduring legacy. In this period lived a man named Taira no Masakado. In events which are swirled with mystery and legend, Masakado found himself in direct opposition with the government, even proclaiming the title of the “New Emperor”. His legacy endures to this day and is a fundamental component in contemporary Japanese folklore. Was Masakado a product of his environment or a self-motivated rebel, examining this question is important in the discussions of the motivations behind his actions. Whether he should be viewed as a villain or a hero is to be considered by the reader.…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays