30 pages • 1 hour read
Ryūnosuke AkutagawaRashomon
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1915A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
The Rashōmon Gate
The Rashōmon was a real gate in the southern part of Kyoto. It was built in 789, but, as reflected in Akutagawa’s story, it fell into disrepair; today, it no longer exists, and its former location is only marked by a stone pillar.
The ruined Rashōmon gate symbolizes the decay of Japanese society. Akutagawa describes the gate’s tarnished crimson lacquer, and writes that, just like Kyoto itself, the Rashōmon gate is irreparable. What was once a magnificent structure has been overtaken by wild animals and criminals, both of whom lack civility and strong moral codes. Unclaimed corpses are abandoned at the gate, reflecting the death of Kyoto’s economic and spiritual prosperity. A city that was once wealthy and rich has fallen into such ruin that it does not even provide proper burial rituals for the dead.
The servant’s presence at the gate is also symbolic. Like the Rashōmon, the servant reflects Japanese Socioeconomics and Post-Feudal Poverty and the decay of Kyoto. Not only was he let go from his position due to Kyoto’s “decline,” but he also slides rapidly into immoral behavior; in other words, his morality decays. Akutagawa purposely positions the servant—and the old woman, who has similarly “decayed” morally—at the dilapidated Rashōmon gate, drawing parallels between them to symbolize Kyoto’s overall decline.
The Festering Pimple
The festering pimple on the servant’s right cheek symbolizes the servant’s inner battle with Morality and Moral Corruption. The pimple disrupts the story multiple times, each time reflecting his views on morality and his own position.
The first time the servant fusses with the pimple, he begins to ruminate on the decline of the city that led him to lose his job. Here, he is morally neutral; he acknowledges that he must turn to thievery if he is to survive, but he struggles to reconcile this with his own moral code. However, the presence of the pimple symbolizes an inner corruption that cannot be fully hidden.
The next time the pimple interrupts the narrative is when a light from the above tower illuminates it. This is followed by the servant’s discovery of the old woman and her “evil” deeds—the servant shines a light on her immorality as his own moral code temporarily wins out.
However, this is short-lived. The servant touches the pimple as he listens to the old woman justifying her thievery, and again right before he robs her. This symbolizes his inability to resist the moral corruption that, like the pimple, “festers” within him. He cannot stop himself from touching the pimple, nor does he really try; similarly, despite a brief flare of moral righteousness, the servant ultimately cannot, and does not, stop himself from delving into immorality.
Rain and Darkness
In addition to creating a grim, cold atmosphere within the setting, rain and darkness symbolize moral corruption and decay. The atmosphere lingers throughout the story, leaving an overall feeling of oppression and gloom. The relentless rain shows no signs of stopping as it “envelops” the dilapidated gate, and the dark cloud gives off the impression of bearing down on the entire city, cloaking the servant, the gate, and all of Kyoto in overwhelming darkness. This is similar to the way calamities and moral corruption have swept over Kyoto, taking over the entire city. Similar to the servant being enveloped by the rain, the city is also completely consumed by the destruction of societal and moral standards.
The servant seeking refuge from the rain signifies his attempt to evade the moral corruption that has taken over Kyoto. Though the gate is barely capable of sheltering him, the servant does at least try to get out of the rain; similarly, he tries to avoid immediately descending into immorality and thievery. This makes it more significant when, after robbing the old woman at the end of the story, he runs out into the darkness (and, presumably, the ongoing rain). At the end of the story, he has embraced moral corruption; thus, he delves into the darkness without hesitation. Though the ending is ambiguous, the fact that the servant is last seen disappearing into the darkness suggests that he may have been lost to his own corruption.
Related Titles
By Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
