The Clowning as a Love Quest

Examines how Yozo's clowning was his last attempt to seek love from human beings, and how it ultimately failed.

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The Invention of Clowning

The Last Quest for Love The Fear of Humans Yozo was terrified of human beings, but he could not renounce their society. He invented clowning as a way to please them. The Mask of the Jester He became a clown, a child who never spoke a truthful word. He thought, "As long as I can make them laugh, I'll be all right." The Hidden Motive His clowning was a desperate quest for love. He wanted to be accepted, even if it meant living a lie.

The Success and Failure

The Popularity The Laughter of Others Yozo succeeded in making people laugh. He was popular, but he felt no connection. He was a performer, not a friend. The Solitude of the Clown He was alone behind his mask. The love he sought was only for the clown, not for the real Yozo. The Exhaustion He grew tired of the performance. It was a constant effort, and he could never relax.

The End of the Quest

The Collapse of the Clown The Inability to Perform After Yoshiko's violation, Yozo's clowning failed. He could not make her laugh. The mask fell off. The Loss of Love He realized that his clowning had never brought him real love. It had only been a shield. Now he was exposed and alone. The Final Truth In the end, he gave up. He no longer tried to please anyone. He was a reject, but perhaps that was the only honest state.

childhood

school years

adulthood, especially after the violation