The Yoshiko Violation

Focuses on the single event of Yoshiko's violation and its immediate and long-term consequences for both characters.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Setup

The Evening of the Incident The Visit from Horiki Horiki came to Yozo's apartment, asking for money. Yoshiko pawned her clothes to lend him some. They bought gin and went to the roof. The Guessing Game They played the tragic/comic noun game. Yozo and Horiki drank and talked. The atmosphere was tense. The Descent Horiki went downstairs, supposedly to get beans. Yozo stayed on the roof, waiting.

The Discovery

The Sight Through the Window The Cry of "Extraordinary Beans" Horiki returned and said, "Extraordinary beans you've got here. Come have a look." He pointed to the window. The Scene Yozo saw the shopkeeper with Yoshiko in their room. His eyes swam. He stood petrified on the stairs. The Paralysis He did not rush to help. He thought, "This is just another aspect of the behavior of human beings." He ran back to the roof and collapsed.

The Aftermath

The Despair The Weeping Yozo poured himself a glass of gin and wept bitterly. He cried aloud, an endless weeping. The Confrontation Yoshiko came to him with a platter of beans. She said, "He told me he wouldn't do anything." Yozo said, "It's all right. Let's eat the beans." The Question He began to think, "Is trustfulness a sin?" This question would plague him forever.

The Long-Term Consequences

The Destruction of the Marriage Yoshiko's Change Yoshiko became anxious and fearful. She jumped when Yozo called her. She could no longer smile. Yozo's Suspicion Yozo began to doubt her. He suspected she might have been unfaithful with others. He had no courage to ask. The Spiral Yozo returned to drinking, then to morphine. The violation destroyed the one virtue he had depended on: trust.

the hot summer night

the same night, moments later

the same night, after Horiki left

the months following the violation