“A man’s life is like a piece of paper on which every passerby leaves a mark.”
Chapter 1: The Distinguished Writer
Suguro, an aging Catholic novelist in Tokyo, is celebrated for his moral integrity. However, his quiet life is disrupted when a journalist claims to have seen him in the red-light district. Suguro denies it, but the accusation plants seeds of doubt in his mind and among his admirers.
Chapter 2: The Mysterious Woman
A young woman named Mitsu approaches Suguro, claiming to have witnessed his presence in the scandalous district. She offers to help him uncover the truth, but her motives remain unclear. Suguro, disturbed by her assertions, begins questioning his own memory and morality.
Chapter 3: The Double
Suguro encounters a man who eerily resembles him—a doppelgänger who may be responsible for the scandalous behavior. As he investigates, Suguro descends into Tokyo’s underworld, confronting his repressed desires and the darker aspects of his identity.
Chapter 4: The Psychological Descent
Haunted by his double, Suguro’s mental state deteriorates. He struggles with guilt, religious doubt, and the fear that his hidden sins are being exposed. His search for the truth becomes a journey into his own soul.
Chapter 5: The Revelation
Suguro finally confronts his doppelgänger, only to realize the man is a manifestation of his own suppressed impulses. The scandal forces him to acknowledge the duality of human nature—the coexistence of virtue and vice within himself.
Chapter 6: The Aftermath
Though the public scandal fades, Suguro is left profoundly changed. He grapples with the realization that no one is purely good or evil, and his faith is tested in ways he never anticipated.
Key Ideas
- The duality of human nature—good and evil within the same person.
- The struggle between public reputation and private desires.
- Religious doubt and moral ambiguity in the face of temptation.
- The psychological toll of confronting one’s hidden self.
- The blurred line between reality and illusion in identity.
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in psychological and moral dilemmas.
- Fans of Japanese literature exploring faith and human frailty.
- Those who enjoy introspective, character-driven narratives.