| Author |
Akutagawa, Ryunosuke, 1892-1927 |
| Title |
羅生門
|
| Alternate Title |
Rashomon
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 53.4 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by Rick Davis
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| Summary |
"羅生門" by Ryunosuke Akutagawa is a short story written in the early 20th century during the Taisho era in Japan. This work delves into themes of morality, desperation, and the darker aspects of human nature. Set in Kyoto, the story portrays a world in turmoil and explores the ethical dilemmas faced by individuals when survival is at stake. The narrative follows a desperate servant waiting under the desolate Roshomon gate during a relentless rain. Having recently been dismissed from his job, he grapples with a choice between starvation and becoming a thief. As he contemplates his fate, he discovers an old woman who is pulling hair from the corpses discarded at the gate, intending to sell it for profit. Disgusted yet intrigued, the servant confronts her, leading to a struggle where he ultimately robs her in a bid for survival. The story highlights the moral complexities inherent in times of crisis, suggesting that desperation can drive individuals to abandon their moral compass. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
Japanese |
| LoC Class |
PL: Language and Literatures: Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania
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| Subject |
Short stories
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| Subject |
Japan -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
1982 |
| Release Date |
Nov 1, 1999 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Apr 15, 2013 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
579 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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