In "Rashomon," Ryunosuke Akutagawa depicts the entire process of an ordinary person falling into depravity driven by self-interest. Moreover, by depicting the impressions of characters with "minor evil", "evil", and "most evil", it gradually brings psychological impact to readers. On the basis of the influence of selfishness, whether it violates morality or harms the interests of others, both are stepping stones for egoists to achieve their own desires. However, selfish individuals, while doing bad things for their own self-esteem, will shift the blame for their mistakes onto the external environment and others. This article describes the transition from good to evil and demonstrates the fragility of people's values in the face of selfishness. Therefore, if eroded by selfishness, one will naturally believe that the interests of others are only stepping stones to satisfy the material and spiritual needs of the selfish. In a broad sense, it can be said that most of human evil can be described as selfishness based on certain reasons. Long Zhijie brings vivid egoism to readers through the form of short stories. After reading, readers cannot help but marvel at the terrifying nature of selfishness, and perhaps reflect on their own actions, which is also one of the reasons why Rashomon became his representative work and attracted worldwide attention.
The Rashomon Gate is located in the center of the capital city, serving as both a dividing space between the city and its surroundings, as well as a boundary between order and chaos, good and evil, life and death, justice and injustice. What morality, what bottom line, in order to survive, it is reasonable to pluck the hair from the head of a dead person, strip others of their clothes, and wear them on oneself, transforming confusion about human nature into self change. The despair of the old woman at the end of the novel, the contrast of the dark environment, and the departure of the domestic slave, are no longer just changes in scene and consciousness. It will inevitably lead to the theme of domestic slaves crossing boundaries, that is, transcending various boundaries of human nature and undergoing a fundamental transformation in the depths of the soul. The gloomy, damp, withered, and cruel scene of Rashomon is actually a portrayal of Ryunosuke Akutagawa's inner self. It is a bitter experience that he cannot express, and it is also a manifestation of his own confusion and anxiety. How can people find a place to rest in such a harsh social environment? On the one hand, this novel affirms the coldness and cruelty of human nature, and on the other hand, it reveals doubts about the essence of human nature and ethical questioning of whether to pursue morality, conscience, or survival. At the same time, it also highlights the innate call of human conscience for "goodness".
Throughout the entire novel, the author strongly accuses the dark society and ugly reality of the time through a series of descriptions of the psychological changes of servants
Contact us
If you would like to speak with Aptar Pharma about a project or enquiry, please contact us.