Set in 1940s Japan, 'The Face of Another' by Kobo Abe tells the story of a scientist who suffers terrible facial injuries after a workplace accident. Alienated by society and even shunned by his wife, he painstakingly creates a lifelike mask to conceal his scars. Chronicling his return to society through notebooks and a letter to his wife, the narrative delves into insightful philosophies about literal and societal loss of face, along with detailed side journeys that explore the complexities of identity and self-perception.

The book is written in a diary format, providing a deep dive into the protagonist's psyche as he grapples with the implications of his disfigurement and the creation of a new identity through the mask. Abe's writing style is detailed and observational, offering sociological commentary and shifting points of view that provide a unique perspective on the concept of persona and the masks individuals wear in different social environments.

Characters:

The characters are deeply complex, particularly the protagonist, who embodies themes of alienation, jealousy, and psychological turmoil.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is introspective and detailed, using an epistolary format that invites readers into the complex thoughts and emotions of the protagonist.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on a scientist who, disfigured from an accident, devises a plan to construct a mask that allows him to deceive his wife, grappling with deep existential questions about identity and self.

Setting:

The setting is in post-war Japan, underscoring the themes of societal alienation and personal disconnection.

Pacing:

The pacing is deliberate and measured, favoring philosophical exploration over rapid plot developments.

AT LAST you have come, threading your way through the endless passages of the maze. With the map you got from him, you have finally found your way to my hideaway—the first room at the top of the creak...

Notes:

The Face of Another is a novel by Kobo Abe, published in 1964.

It follows the story of a scientist disfigured by keloid scars from a lab accident.

The main character creates a realistic mask to seduce his wife, whom he believes finds him unattractive.

The narrative is conveyed through three notebooks written by the scientist.

The novel explores themes of identity, alienation, and the nature of self.

The protagonist becomes consumed by his mask, leading to a loss of his true self.

A notable subplot involves a girl scarred by the Hiroshima bombing, representing post-war trauma.

Kobo Abe's writing style combines philosophical musings with psychodrama.

The character's obsession with the mask highlights the dangers of losing one's identity.

The novel is often seen as a commentary on the facelessness of contemporary society.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes of disfigurement, psychological trauma, existential crises, and emotional manipulation.

From The Publisher:

Like an elegantly chilling postscript to The Metamorphosis, this classic of postwar Japanese literature describes a bizarre physical transformation that exposes the duplicities of an entire world. The narrator is a scientist hideously deformed in a laboratory accident-a man who has lost his face and, with it, his connection to other people. Even his wife is now repulsed by him.

His only entry back into the world is to create a mask so perfect as to be undetectable. But soon he finds that such a mask is more than a disguise: it is an alternate self-a self that is capable of anything. A remorseless meditation on nature, identity and the social contract, The Face of Another is an intellectual horror story of the highest order.

Reader Stats (14):

Want To Read (9)
Not Interested (5)

What can you read after
The Face of Another?

See the list (95 books)

About the Author:

Kobo Abe was born in Tokyo in 1924 and grew up in Mukden, Manchuria, during World War II. In 1948 he received a medical degree from Tokyo Imperial University, but he never practiced medicine. Considered one of Japan's foremost novelists, his…

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

The Face of Another

Kobo Abe