The Spider's Thread

Historical Context and Significance

«The Spider's Thread» is a short story written by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa in 1918. It is one of the most famous works of Japanese literature and is often included in school curricula in Japan. The story is based on a Buddhist parable and tells of the sinner Kandata, who is given a chance to escape hell due to a good deed he performed in life. The story explores themes of morality, compassion, and the consequences of human actions. The influence of «The Spider's Thread» on culture lies in its ability to make readers reflect on their actions and their consequences. The work also illustrates the synthesis of Western and Eastern literary traditions characteristic of Akutagawa's work, making it an important part of Japanese modernist literature.