"Dendrocacalia" is written as an allegory. It can be interpreted in relation to World War II. The main character, Common, is representative of ordinary Japanese citizens during the war. He is being punished for actions that he, himself, did not knowingly commit. For his punishment, Common transforms into a tree rooted in the earth. His face slips off, his arms are made into leaves and branches, and his legs become the trunk of the tree. In this illustration, this torment is what many Japanese endured during World War II. Many were harmed during numerous bombings and other wartime casualties. These Japanese citizens were harmed for the actions of the state, not the individual themselves. Each citizen lost part of their honor, as well as their personal dignity during this unsettling time. They were a the mercy of their government and were forced to face the repercussions of governmental actions

In dealing with honor, the concept of suicide is discussed. Throug

This concept of suicide is related to Dante's theory of Hell. Dante's Hell is a place of fire where people go to purge their sins. The sinners that are placed in hell have no awareness of their sins. Common saw that there was no sin in hell, only punishment. Upon his realization of this, he saw that the only explanation for these strange occurrences in his life were that he had previously committed suicide, without knowing, and was now in Hell and having to suffer for his sins (55). His punishment, turning into a tree, was his retribution for his sins, and therefore created this Inferno for him. The burning and fire would purge his sins, just as it purged the tribe of Zeus. Kobo Abe noted, in Beyond the Curve, "Transformation into a plant meant avoiding unhappiness, at the cost of future happiness; salvation from sin meant being thrown into the midst of Sin"(58).

The director of the Botanical Garden is representative of a god-like character, or one with the power of ruling. He wants Common to join his garden. This is no ordinary garden; it is a place of protection from the outside world and its cruelties. It is symbolic of a perfect, harmonious place where Common would not have to worry about others ruining or damaging his tree. The assistant to the director acts a

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Approximate Word count = 867
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)