Vida de un loco: tres relatos.

By Ryunosuke Akutagawa
895.63 A315j.E 1a. ed. c.1


The book I read had 3 stories.

El biombo del infierno (Hell screen - 地獄変 Jigokuhen 1917)

The title of El biombo del Infierno relates directly to the story with no further meaning, where El Biombo is a screen where the scenary of Hell was painted.

The Hell Screen is about how arrogance, haughtyness, and selfishness can take over the heart of a man, who had never cared about the consequences it might have. In the story, Yoshihide (the painter) loses his doughter who is burnt alive by The Great lord's orders. This is due to the attemp of having Yoshihide's request of sacrifing a human life just to see the process of someone dying among flames... just to paint it and finish his work.

To my point of view, the writer was quite concise through out the story in terms of telling exactly what happened. He made an interesting point by focus his attention on Yoshihide's daughter as well as in the faithful friendship the monkey had with her. In my opinion, is was this what makes us despise Yoshihide at the end.
I think the main lesson of the story was that as a human living in a society, you can not be individualist nor can you be arrogant thinking that you are the best of the whole universe. I mean, you can and perhaps you are the best of the best, but it is has to do with the attitude or approach you are showing.

Los engranajes ("Spinning Gears" - 歯車 Haguruma. 1927)

This story's title is related to gears the main character would see time to time, as well as a process of a series of situations that took place. It seems to me it is like a metaphore, because the spinning gears are usually mentioned in relation with insanity. As for the main points, there were any, since the main character was telling what he was doing or where he was but mostly you have to read between the lines. This is because he's hidden message is insanity, yet not the kind of insanity that you all consider. This insanity, which is depressive, you cannot fight against.
Akutagawa is not inventing this story, he is not trying to make a point. He is just a victime of modernity, which changed (and killed) much of the japanese people's beliefs. Culturaly speaking, once Japan opened its doors in the 20th century, people got lost inside, and did not know where the belong anymore (kind of what happens to some of us nowadays).

Vida de un loco (Fool's Life - 或阿呆の一生 Aru Ahō no Isshō. 1927)

Fool's life is the last story Akutagawa wrote before he commited suicide. Akutagawa actually presented it as a joke to laugh about. Nevertheless, it is as funny as a grave with worms. Again, the story is about his own day-to-day life, how he met his wife, how he felt when he was about to be a father, his reflexions about life, etc. I think, Akutagawa's perspective can be seen explicitly in this story, i.g. how unhappy was with his life and with the world as well as with the whole idea of life, society, family, etc. I believe it is hard to tell you about this story, since it is complex and simple at the same time. I mean, you have to be miserable to understand the point he was making. As for the main lesson, not even death can save your twisted mind of itself.