Metaphor for masculinity
The narrator provides the reader with a quick glimpse into the life of the main character, Densu. It is revealed that during the character's childhood, he took part in a competition to prove his manliness. As a part of the competition, he had to fight against an opponent and by defeating him Densu would then be chosen as the next leader. Densu was unsuccessful and as a result, his brother was chosen as the next leader. However, we encounter here an important metaphor, namely the act of killing a person.
The castle
The main character lived for a big portion of his life inside a castle, surrounded by wealth and money. Densu had everything he could ever want and he lived a comfortable and luxurious life. The castle in itself becomes used as a metaphor in this novel. In this case, is used as a metaphor for the innocence of childhood and the protection offered by being close to one's parents.
The forest
After Densu realized that he wanted to become a healer, he left the comfort of the castle he lived in and went to seek refuge inside a nearby forest. In the forest, Densu met a man who was a healer and who agreed to become his mentor. The forest becomes from that point on a metaphor, used to represent the new-found freedom Densu had the opportunity to experience.
The "colored people"
The story ends with the description of a large group of "colored people" entering the kingdom after Densu is appointed as King. The arrival of these people is seen as being extremely important and is given a metaphorical meaning. Thus, the presence of these people is seen as a metaphor for prosperity.
The dance
After the action of the story is resolved, a strange dance is described. This dance is performed by a diverse group of people, all getting involved in some form or another. The dance is understood hardly by anyone in the novel and is described as being a complete mystery. The dance thus becomes a metaphor here and it represents the uncertainty represented by the future.
