I, who fear only the eyes of others and the punishment of society, and whose fears disappear when I am secure from these, am now disturbed.

To say 'disturbed' is perhaps to exaggerate. To say 'feel strange' would probably be nearer the mark. There is something I would like to ask you. Aren't you too, deep down, unmoved by the sufferings and death of others? Aren't we brothers under the skin perhaps? Haven't you, too, lived your life up to now without excessive self- recrimination and shame? And then someday doesn't there stir in you, too, the thought that you're a bit 'strange'?

this book was insane, i didn't expect to absolutely devour it.

Actually phenomenal. I couldn't put it down.

This was an assigned novel for my Hospital Stories Seminar class, but it definitely deserves it's 4.5 star rating. I didn't have much information on the book going in and therefore likely didn't have very high expectations. Suffice to say the writing style and descriptions and imagery from Endo truly changed my mind. Following several characters and the foils between all of them and their own backstories all set within the backdrop of the war and the humanity of each character and the rationalisation behind their choices and participation in vivisections on prisoners of war was a surprisingly more compelling storyline than I would have thought. I basically finished this book in one sitting. It took me a fair bit longer than I had expected— from around 6:30 or 7 pm to 11 pm. I did highlight and take extensive notes as I read so I suppose that could be reason enough. I do want to say I felt the ending of the book seemed a little hurried or unfinished. Perhaps Endo had meant to do so though. Either way I really loved seeing the differences and similarities between Suguru and Todo— they're such compelling and realistic characters. The almost sideplot of Hilda and the Nurse were also incredibly interesting. This book contained so many layers and thoughts beyond just the question of doctors and what is best for patients, but also meditations on relationships and the somewhat futility of life. I think there's more to be said about the one man who sat digging up the same poplar tree day in and day out... especially as the frail arms of the old woman faded away and the dripping red flag with hackneyed phrases of support went out to a prisoner somewhere out on the field that had lost his mother. Her gnawing on some dextrose and getting slapped by a doctor— that, too, the most compassionate doctor of the lot. This book taught me so much and reminded me of exactly why I'm working to be a doctor and reaffirmed my decisions. Furthermore, it even convinced me that I am someone who feels deeply and compassionately for patients. The distance that Todo felt from his patients wasn't something at all that I could really relate to at this point in my life/career and for that realisation I am beyond grateful. This book is nothing like anything I've read recently nor is it something that I would have ever decided to/elected to pick up of my own volition, but I'm beyond grateful for it. Can't believe this shit happened fr irl... crazy shit. Cannot wait for the discussion about this book in class!

Set in Japan during the second world war, this is a story about personal responsibility and the effects of conscience. A team of doctors and nurses at a hospital of TB patients is faced with the opportunity to perform vivisections on American prisoners, in the interest of furthering medical science. Endo gives us the backgrounds of several of these characters, each of whom react differently to the horrific procedure. It was, apparently, one of the first times the issue of personal responsibility for actions taken during the war was brought up in Japanese fiction, and the novel won Endo awards and acclaim. It is a stark and stirring work, the clinical nature of the surgery scenes and the interior psychological wrestling of the characters in particular bearing the ring of truth.

Stark and disturbing. I found this to be fairly messy structurally, and some unusual narrative choices stopped this being quite as affecting a read as I had hoped.

ضمن أحداث رواية (الصمت) لنفس كاتب هذه الرواية شوساكو إندو، وخلال تحقيق حاكم ناجازاكي إينوي مع الراهب سباستيان رودريجز بتهمة نشر الديانة المسيحية التي كانت وقتئذ ديانة محظورة في اليابان، شبه اليابان "بكونها مستنقعًا يجتذب كل شيء إلى ذاته" مدللًا على فشله في مهمة نشر الدين ﻷنه لا يعرف بواطن الثقافة اليابانية التي تتعامل بآليات معقدة ومركبة مع من يقبع خارج حدودها، واضعة الغريب عن هذه الثقافة في معضلة كبيرة لمحاولة فهمها.

في (البحر والسم)، يعود إندو مرة آخرى لاكتشاف الجوانب المظلمة والوحشية في الثقافة اليابانية، وهذه المرة خلال الحرب العالمية الثانية، أي في ذروة بروز النعرة القومية التي ميزت اليابان في هذه الفترة المظلمة من تاريخ البشرية، ومن خلال طرح مواجهة جديدة بين اﻷنا واﻵخر لكن على خلفية مختلفة، فبعد أن كانت خافية الصراع في (الصمت) على أساس الدين، يأتي الصراع في (البحر والسم) على أساس الوطن، وكيف نظر اﻹنسان الياباني في هذه الفترة إلى من لم ينتمي لنفس وطنه: مجرد شيء مستباح لهم ﻷي غرض، وهو ما نراه هنا من خلال تشريح اﻷسري اﻷمريكيين وهم على قيد الحياة.

نحن نرى هذا من الخارج فعلًا شريرًا ولا أخلاقيًا، لكنه بالنسبة ﻷبطال الرواية الضالعين في هذه المهمة المشينة ليس كذلك، وهو ما يبرز داخل الرواية أسئلة بالغة التعقيد على غرار أسئلة (الصمت): هل يبرر الهدف اﻷخلاقي المنشود أية أفعال غير أخلاقية تقام في سبيله؟ وهل كل من يقع خارج دائرة (اﻷنا) لا يتمتع بنفس الخصال اﻹنسانية التي يتسم بها؟ وهل كل التقدم العلمي والتحضر اﻹنساني الحادث لم يفلحا في تهذيب الطبيعة الوحشية للإنسان؟