Beyond the Curve, written by Kobo Abe sends a message to his fellow Japanese citizens. He constructs an allegory based on honor, identity, and Dante’s Hell. Abe’s choice of writing allows us to think deeper than the obvious, and “read between the lines.” “Dendrocacalia” is written as an allegory. It can be interpreted in relation to World War II. The main character, Common, is representative of ordinary Japanese citizens during the war. He …showed first 75 words of 825 total…

…showed last 75 words of 825 total…the director labeled him “Dendrocacalia crepidifolia”(64). Dendrocacalia crepidifolia is translated into a bad tree with trembling leaves. Common allowed the powers that be exceed him, but he did it with suspicion and restraint. Kobo Abe wrote this allegory in order to send a message to his fellow Japanese citizens. He wrote it so that we, the readers, would understand the underlying meaning, without saying it bluntly. He utilized many different allusions to express his message.