Scan barcode
A review by ben_smitty
Scandal by Shūsaku Endō
4.0
Scandal is one of Endo's later works, which I believe was written as a reply to Freudian psychoanalysis as the ultimate answer to humanity's sexual urges. Endo seems to be playing with the idea of the "unconscious" as a space which makes sin and salvation possible; however, Endo also seems to be questioning the validity of the unconscious' origin as simply an Oedipal desire to be with the mother. He digs deeper into the darkness of masochism and sadism as it plays out in his characters and questions whether these can originate from biological desire. Yes, all animals have a desire to procreate, but only humans seem to long for something greater, and this longing twists the act of sex into something much filthier.
The book is a little sloppy compared to Endo's other works, especially since Endo is forcing himself into the protagonist a little too much, and his Christian message is a little heavy-handed. Still, Scandal raised some interesting questions in my mind, and I applaud Endo's attempt to break off from his usual narrative techniques.
The book is a little sloppy compared to Endo's other works, especially since Endo is forcing himself into the protagonist a little too much, and his Christian message is a little heavy-handed. Still, Scandal raised some interesting questions in my mind, and I applaud Endo's attempt to break off from his usual narrative techniques.