The concept of spirits and the afterlife is a common motif in many cultural works throughout the world. Within the Kwaidan selections, searching and aimless spirits, portray ghastly brutality as we read about them mutilating, murdering, and haunting without remorse. The theme of untamed brutality pervades throughout many tales in the Kwaidan selections, including “The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi,” “Yuki-Onna,” as well as the “The Story of O-Tei.” Ultimately, there is no escape from the wrath …showed first 75 words of 1109 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1109 total…people? “An Imperial Message” is a parable of hope and persistence in overcoming even the most impossible situations. Rich in symbolism and language, Kafka conveys the distances to be crossed are simply impossible to journey through considering as you pass through one obstacle, another one is waiting right there, in an infinite loop. However, in this never-ending journey, the “indefatigable” man continues to persevere to bring that message from the emperor to us, the readers.