r of honor; they did it to protect the family name. To them this is acceptable; through their actions they show that it they are willing to kill a man to have a good reputation. In In a Grove, the three main characters take credit for the killing of Takehiko to receive some self-satisfaction and honor. Firstly, the villain of the story, Tajomaru says, I killed him. By taking credit for Takehikos murder he receives some honor and expands his ego. But this is not enough for him he has to boast some more. He goes on to give a miraculous recollection of events by saying, I neednt tell you how our fight turned out, the twenty-third stroke please remember this. He goes on and on bragging about killing this samurai in a sword fight. This boasting gives him even more honor and he believes that he is getting a better reputation as a great swordsman. Secondly, when Takehikos wife gives her confession she says, I stabbed the small sword through his lilac colored kimono into his breast. She takes credit for his murder because she was just raped by Tajomaru and doesnt have any honor or self-respect. Therefore by taking credit for this murder she wouldnt have to deal with the pain of confronting her husband after she was raped. Thirdly, (through someone who communicates with the dead) Takehiko takes credit for his own murder. I took [the dagger] up and stabbed it into my breast. He takes credit for his death because he is already dead and it would help make his afterlife easier if he took his own life and died with some honor. Another reason is that he may not have been able to live with himself after just sitting on the ground and helplessly watching his wife being raped. So he dies taking what little honor he may have had left after watching his wife taken before his eyes.The characters of these three short stories are victims of caring too much about their reputations and honor. They are in some sort of trance making them too ...
