In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for Harakiri, we talk about themes that help us understand the film.
Cast
- Tatsuya Nakadai – Tsugumo Hanshirō (津雲 半四郎)
- Rentarō Mikuni – Saitō Kageyu (斎藤 勘解由)
- Akira Ishihama – Chijiiwa Motome (千々岩 求女)
- Shima Iwashita – Tsugumo Miho (津雲 美保)
- Tetsurō Tamba – Omodaka Hikokuro (沢潟 彦九郎)
- Ichirō Nakatani – Yazaki Hayato (矢崎 隼人)
- Masao Mishima – Inaba Tango (稲葉 丹後)
- Kei Satō – Fukushima Masakatsu (福島 正勝)
- Yoshio Inaba – Chijiiwa Jinai (千々岩 陣内)
- Yoshiro Aoki – Kawabe Umenosuke (川辺 右馬介)
- Shinobu Hashimoto – Writer
- Masaki Kobayashi – Director
The themes and meaning of Harakiri
The Disparity of Power and Class
One of the predominant themes explored in Harakiri is the disparity of power and class within the context of Edo period Japan. The film meticulously showcases the social order’s rigidity, especially towards the samurai class, who find themselves in dire straits during a time of peace, rendered obsolete and often impoverished.
In the film, we see how this disparity manifests itself primarily through the character of Tsugumo Hanshirō, an unemployed samurai, or rōnin. He is forced to navigate an unyielding society that offers him no respite from his dire situation, yet expects him to uphold his honor as per the samurai code. His struggle is symbolic of the struggle of many samurais of the time, caught in the cruel paradox of needing to uphold honor in a society that has deprived them of the means to do so.
The class disparity is further highlighted through the characters of the Iyi clan, who represent the privileged and powerful samurai households. The disparity between their lofty ideals and the ground reality of the society they preside over is a recurring theme in the movie. Their adherence to the traditional samurai code becomes a tool of oppression rather than a guideline for a dignified life, as they exploit it to maintain their power and privilege, often with cruel consequences for those less fortunate.
The Iyi clan’s reaction to Hanshirō’s request to commit harakiri in their courtyard also serves as a powerful commentary on the class divide. The clan, initially assuming that he is trying to bluff his way into receiving charity, treats him with suspicion and scorn. This response further emphasizes the disconnect between the powerful and the powerless, and the lack of understanding or empathy from the former for the plight of the latter.
The Tragedy of the Samurai Code
Another important theme Harakiri delves into is the tragedy inherent in the samurai code of honor, or Bushido. Bushido emphasizes virtues like loyalty, courage, veracity, and honor unto death, and was considered the guiding principle of a samurai’s life. However, the film portrays how these noble ideals can become a burden when the samurai find themselves unable to fulfill their societal roles due to circumstances beyond their control.
This tragedy is vividly depicted in the plight of Motome Chijiiwa, Hanshirō’s son-in-law. Motome’s desperate act of trying to sell his bamboo blades to feed his family is seen as a betrayal of the samurai code, but it’s a situation he’s been forced into by the very society that enforces this code. His subsequent forced harakiri with his bamboo blade is a gruesome representation of the destructive impact of rigid societal norms.
Hanshirō himself serves as a potent symbol of this tragic theme. His life, marked by loss and poverty, is an embodiment of the tragedy of a samurai living in a society that has ceased to value him. The film thus offers a poignant critique of a system that values a code of honor more than human lives, where individuals are compelled to take desperate measures, like harakiri, to uphold their honor.
The Illusion of Honor
Harakiri powerfully critiques the concept of honor and how it is often used as a tool of societal control. The film systematically dismantles the idea that honor is an absolute value, suggesting instead that it’s a constructed ideal, often manipulated by those in power to maintain their status quo.
The Iyi clan, for instance, upholds the concept of honor as an absolute, and they expect every samurai to adhere to it regardless of their circumstances. However, the film shows this interpretation of honor to be rigid and unsympathetic, lacking any consideration for human suffering or hardship. They enforce harakiri on Motome, despite his clear desperation and inability to perform the ritual properly, because they prioritize the maintenance of the abstract principle of honor over compassion or empathy. This rigid and dehumanizing adherence to “honor” is depicted as a tool of oppression, rather than a system of ethics or morality.
In contrast, Hanshirō’s view of honor is deeply personal and rooted in the lived experiences of individuals. To him, honor isn’t an abstract ideal but an intimate part of his humanity, defined by his actions, integrity, and how he treats others. When he confronts the Iyi clan, he exposes the hollowness of their interpretation of honor, as their actions do not align with the compassion, integrity, or loyalty that true honor would encompass.
The film also comments on the illusion of collective honor, whereby a community or a clan’s honor is held above the welfare of individuals. The Iyi clan is more concerned with protecting its reputation than with acknowledging the systemic issues leading samurais like Hanshirō and Motome to their desperate acts. They are willing to go to great lengths to maintain this illusion of collective honor, even if it means silencing dissent and causing suffering. This critique of collective honor highlights the societal tendency to maintain the appearance of respectability and honor, often at the expense of individual well-being and justice.
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