What is the Rashomon Phenomenon? Which of the interpretations discussed in the text do you find most intriguing and why?

The Rashomon Phenomenon is the idea/question of “how can a person know the truth of what really happened.”

The audience is never given the satisfaction of knowing which account of the events really occurred. This leaves the audience to decide for themselves if any one story is accurate or if the truth lies within the combination of the stories.

I find the story told by Tajomaru to be the most interesting. He knows that death is imminent due to his capture. He knows that his death is certain regardless of the events that took place during the encounter (story). He even states this fact to those hearing his “trial.”

Tajomaru is a known thief and heinous individual. Tales exist of him robbing and murdering yet he adamantly defends his stance that he did not rape Masago. Why would he lie about that? After all, the legacy he leaves behind is a terrible one. What does he have to gain by denying the rape? Either in the 1950’s era Japan that crime was too taboo for even the wicked or he didn’t rape her.

Tajomaru also tells a tale of a sword battle between him and Takehiro. The story makes the sword battle between the two to be legendary with much back and forth action. Tajomaru praises Takehiro about how they crossed swords over 20 times which had never happened before. Considering the alternatives of what happened, this seems to be quite an embellishment. This lie, however, makes the story very interesting. Tajomaru was either trying to preserve the honor and dignity of Takehiro or to further boost his own ego and legend upon his own death.

I don’t believe the retelling by Tajomaru.  I do find his most interesting because it contains the most lies. Finding his internal motivations is fun because it uses reasoning.

I believe the closest retelling to be that of the woodcutters. He seemed truly hurt by the retelling of event by everybody. He may have taken the dagger, but he has multiple kids to provide for. He had less to gain by lying than anybody else present.