The Aspect of Vanity

Explores how Yozo's physical handsomeness and his 'lady-killer' aura affected his interactions and contributed to his downfall.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Handsomeness

The Load of Beauty The Photographs The narrator describes Yozo's photographs: the second picture shows a handsome young man, but with an artificial, pretense-filled smile. The Police Chief's Comment When Yozo was arrested, the police chief said, "There's a handsome lad for you! It wasn't your fault." Yozo felt wretched, as if he had a deformity. The Curse of Good Looks Yozo's beauty attracted women, but he felt it was a kind of deception. He was not handsome; he was a blank sheet of paper.

The Lady-Killer Reputation

The Odor of the Womanizer The Unintended Effect Yozo's apprenticeship with prostitutes gave him an atmosphere that attracted women. Horiki pointed it out, half as a compliment. The Pain of Recognition Yozo was pained. He remembered the many women who had shown interest in him: the general's daughter, the waitress, the tobacco shop girl. The Burden of Attraction His ability to attract women was a curse. It brought him unwanted attention and complicated his life.

The Use of Good Looks

The Manipulation The Flattery Yozo used his charm to get what he wanted: money, shelter, drugs. He was aware of his power and used it, though with shame. The Disgust He felt that his handsomeness was tainted with lewdness. He was not proud of it; it was a tool of his degradation. The Final Disappearance In the third photograph, Yozo is a grey-haired, expressionless man. His beauty is gone. He has become a ghost.

college years

college, after spending time with prostitutes

throughout his life