Pathway to Japanese Literature
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My View of LifeAuthor: Sakaguchi Ango
| Original Title | 我が人生観 |
|---|---|
| Author | 坂口 安吾 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | A man grapples with existential dread as his wife’s pregnancy unravels layers of guilt, medical uncertainty, and fractured trust. Tormented by a history of reckless living, he obsesses over potential pathogens lurking in his body, demanding aggressive treatments while hospitalized. His wife’s retroverted uterus complicates childbirth, but deeper anxieties surface: doubts about the child’s paternity, fears of inherited flaws, and unresolved tensions in their marriage. Their bond, built on economic dependence and fleeting affection, frays as sleepless nights reveal whispered names of past lovers and unspoken regrets. A haunting encounter with a mentally deteriorating patient mirrors his own spiraling psyche. When the pregnancy ends abruptly, relief mingles with emptiness, exposing the fragility of their coexistence. Amidst sterile hospital corridors and lukewarm baths, he confronts love’s transience—a materialist resigned to decaying obligations yet oddly tethered to fleeting human connections. The story lingers in the shadows of what might have been, questioning whether redemption lies in letting go or clinging to life’s fragile threads. |
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