Short Fiction · Chapter
Rashōmon explained
A jobless lackey takes shelter under the Rashōmon gate in decaying Kyoto, contemplating whether to starve or turn thief.
What happens
A jobless lackey takes shelter under the Rashōmon gate in decaying Kyoto, contemplating whether to starve or turn thief. He discovers an old hag pulling hair from corpses to make wigs, and after initially condemning her, he is swayed by her justification of survival, ultimately robbing her and embracing a life of crime.
Themes in this chapter
Moral Ambiguity
The lackey's initial condemnation of the hag's actions gives way to his own theft, blurring the line between good and evil.
Illusion vs. Reality
The lackey's initial sense of righteousness is shattered by the hag's rationalization, revealing the harsh reality of survival.
Suffering and Compassion
The hag's justification for her actions stems from the necessity to avoid starvation, highlighting the suffering that drives moral compromise.
Characters to notice
- Rashōmon
The gate itself serves as a setting and symbol of decay and moral ambiguity.
- The Badger
Mentioned as one of the creatures that inhabit the abandoned gate.
- the Buddha
Implied through the reference to Buddhist images being broken and sold for firewood.
Key passages
“I’m pulling out hair, pulling out this woman’s hair, because I’m going to make wigs.”
The old hag explains that she is collecting hair from the dead to make wigs for a living.
This reveals the hag's pragmatic approach to survival, which challenges the lackey's moral outrage.
“Then I guess you won’t blame me for turning highwayman, will you? I, too, must starve else.”
The lackey decides to rob the hag, using the same logic of necessity to justify his actions.
This marks the lackey's descent into theft, mirroring the hag's rationalization.