Ryunosuke Akutagawa got his education in Tokyo University at the English Literature Department, so that he became knowledgeable on European literature (including Russian texts). He wrote “The Nose” in 1916, having come across “The Nose” by N. V. Gogol (1833). He took the Russian satirical story and changed it according to Japanese traditions. Despite this basis, Akutagawa’s story is worth being regarded as a unique creation.
In the story about the Japanese in the Middle Ages we find a monk Zenchi, possessing a notable lineament – he has a big dangling nose up to six inches long. The author says that the monk has numerous troubles with his nose and surely feels very uncomfortable. His ugly nose drew all his thoughts so that he couldn’t fulfill his spiritual duties. People laugh at Zecnhi, but generally all they seem to accept the monk with such appearance defect. All people except the monk himself. Obviously he found the solution and got his nose normal. But the expected calm didn’t come. People used to see him with his nose, and now they see him lacking his individuality and laugh at him more. The idea of non-acceptance of somebody’s success (or changes) shows up as well. Probably they didn’t speak frankly in Japan about this because of highly reserved type of culture. Though Akutagawa puts this idea in the thoughts of Zenchi: “Man is possessed of two contradictory sentiments.(...) when the other manages to pull through his misfortune he(…)comes even to regard him with envy. (…) some may feel like casting him into his former misfortune”. But the Japanese are highly disciplined and courteous, so that the monk denies such blaming thoughts. The idea of self-acceptance arises next. A new nose brought much more troubles than the former one: “day after day Zenchi, becoming more and more unhappy and vexed, wouldn’t open his mouse without speaking sharply to someone…”. In a happy case Zenchi gets his usual long nose back. The previous pursuit for the calm now is substituted with properly calm. In this moment the monk concurs with his appearance and gets his individuality back again.
One more idea the author speaks about at the beginning of the story is a human self-adoration: “the loss of his dignity on account of it was intolerable”. A monk is a human, and it is possible for everyone to get one’s self-esteem somewhat overrated. Still it was the reason for all the following events: the monk couldn’t accept that he was imperfect in something, and all his efforts were made for his perfection being achieved. The core is in the constant self-development, but with an adequate treatment of life.
Using the image of a monk – a man honorable in Japan - Ryunosuke Akutagawa, with a pinch of irony and humor, speaks about such important concept as a human soul. He found its improvement a very complicated but still very important process. The story teaches us to accept our individuality, to be proud for our advantages and not to be so strict about disadvantages. Harmony with oneself is the surest sign of happiness.
