芥川龍之介『煙草と悪魔』論

Abstract

This short story published in "Shin Si Cho" in November 1915, is one of the first Christian literature produced by Akutagawa . The “cigarette and devil” is a typical example of his writing which describes Christianity as a subject of “exoticism”. The writer suggests that “the advent of god consequently results in the advent of devils; therefore, it is reasonable to propose that importing the goodness from Western society at the same time, brings along the evil. This is the main theme of the story, demonstrating that there are two sides to all things. Such theme is emphasized and further depicted using the concept of “exoticism” and also by parodying cow seller’s faulty religious belief. This story, in addition to Akutagawa ’s early work, raises the fundamental problem of two sides existing in all matters.