Short Fiction · Chapter
II explained
In this chapter, the eccentric Mori Gonnoshin, an officer of foot, is introduced.
What happens
In this chapter, the eccentric Mori Gonnoshin, an officer of foot, is introduced. Unlike his fellow soldiers who diligently catch lice, Mori advocates for keeping them alive, claiming that the itching and scratching they cause keeps him warm and prevents colds. He collects lice from his comrades and pours them down his neck, explaining his unique theory of lice as a source of warmth and health.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Compassion
Mori's unusual compassion for lice, treating them as beneficial creatures rather than pests, highlights a unique perspective on suffering and coexistence.
Characters to notice
- Mori Gonnoshin
The eccentric officer who advocates raising lice for warmth and health.
Key passages
“If you catch ’em, don’t kill ’em. Put ’em in teacups alive, an’ I’ll take ’em.”
Mori asks his comrades not to kill the lice they catch, but to collect them in teacups and give them to him.
Mori's request to preserve lice rather than kill them sets up his unconventional theory.
“With these I can sleep warm from this night on.”
Mori claims that the lice will keep him warm at night.
Mori's belief in the warming power of lice is central to his argument.
“Each and every one of you caught cold in this recent snap, but what of this Gonnoshin? He doesn’t sneeze. He doesn’t run at the nose. More, not once has he felt feverish or cold in the hands or feet. Whose good work do you s’pose this is? It’s all the good work of the lice.”
Mori boasts that while others have caught colds, he has remained healthy, attributing his well-being to the lice.
Mori's explanation of his health is a key part of his advocacy for keeping lice.