The Silent Cry was a dark, lyrical, sometimes enigmatic read. At nearly 400 pages, it is a full work and it does pack an emotional punch. I found myself struggling to grasp some of the symbolism and themes, which might partly stem from my lack of historical background knowledge pertaining to the end of the Japanese Shogunate which is frequently referenced and whose connection to the present time as a parallel event is purposefully belabored by Oe. The novel does use some extreme and grotesque imagery (rape, including of a child, adultery, violent murder, etc.) and Oe is completely stoic in his description of these events. It seems that Oe highlights the darker characteristics of human beings as part of his commentary on the cyclical nature of society over time. What I mean is that he seems to take a cynical approach to the future and believes there is an inevitability of needless death in the pursuit of large-scale change, which is not always even in the best interests of people. Takashi best exemplifies the manic selfishness of a self-obsessed revolutionary/charismatic authority (as characterized by Max Weber). It may be that Oe is suggesting that revolutionary individuals are destined for failure and that their efforts are futile - the death of S and Takashi (the narrator’s revolutionary brothers) do both suggest this, as does the supremacy of “The Emperor” (who is the foreign supermarket owner/previous victim of S’s revolution decades prior), but I wonder about the suggestion made by the narrator’s wife becoming pregnant by the narrator’s brother (Takashi). After the couple has an invalid child that ruins their life and relationship, she begets Takashi’s child which the reader assumes will possess the vitality of Takashi, while the elder brother will be doomed to repeat the nature of his father (the narrator). But because he is an invalid, I wonder if this is making some suggestion about the cycle stopping, or else what could it mean? There are so many other interesting areas in this book. Characters are commonly plagued by mysterious or random illnesses (like semi-blindness, an inability to stop eating, mental retardation, etc.). The symbol of eyes is ubiquitous as well. The unreliability of accounts passed down throughout history is also highlighted through conversations about what had actually happened during the revolt 100 years ago and at other times in the past and how this influences the motivations and beliefs of the characters. The life and death of characters are rooted in these understandings despite their shaky validity. There is a lot to unpack and plenty to think about, but the language and story are also top notch and it’s an unforgettably dark ride through Oe’s mind.