The Nose (Akutagawa) Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

The Nose (Akutagawa) Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

Rising sun (Symbol)

The rising sun is a symbol of quieting, solution, peace or victory which follow the restless tense night, conflict, and great and often negative emotions. After his night, Zenchi gets his quiet end solution, the freedom from his thoughts. He obviously (the author doesn’t speak about it) gets back to real life.

A temple (Symbol)

The temple is a symbol of pacification and spiritual place where one can face God. Still there are no words about Zenchi’s service – since all the time he was examining the noses. This symbol is used to emphasize the general mood.

Bells (Symbol)

Sudden wind and tinkling wind bells – these are the symbols of something especial that is going to happen. Such images bring feelings of worry and waiting.

A wooden stick (Motif)

A wooden stick appears two times: at the very beginning and in the end of the story. At first it is just a help for Zenchi while eating, which surely was making him feel uncomfortable. But at the second time it is a powerful remembrance and almost the maximum tension moment of the story, which makes Zenchi think over his life in wide aspect. The second appearance is accompanied with anger and beating – signifying, in terms of Zenchi, his wounded self-esteem.

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