COLOR SYMBOLISM IN SCENERY DESCRIPTIONS OF RYUNOSUKE AKUTAGAWA’S STORIES AND NOVELLAS

Abstract

 The article deals with color symbolism in landscape descriptions in the works of a well-known Japanese writer Akutagawa Ryunosuke. The landscape can signify the place of an action, create some emotional atmosphere or it can be a significant component of characters psychological characteristic. In his famous story "Spinning Gears" the author points out some colors that are annoying for him. For example, black color resembles him the sinners' souls of Dante's Hell. Akutagawa's color perception is painful enough as a result of his mental disease. In his novella "At the seaside" landscape colors are used to depict the inner state of the main characters and their mood. White color of a lotus flower in the novella "The Death of a Holy Man", "The Spider's Thread" is a symbol of peacefulness, beauty, happiness and purity. Red color in the short story "Three Men" gains negative characteristics and meaning as it is associated with blood and death. 

Keywords

• R. Akutagawa,color description,symbolism,landscape,image,psychological function,characters inner state

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