Musui's story

Before a coherent analysis of Musui's Story can be presented it is essential that the role of the samurai in Japanese society is understood. It is also imperative to understand that the samurai, as a class of warriors, emerged from a Japan that was in a state of constant civil war. Their sole purpose was to Afind a way to die, . . . to make a conscious effort to think of death and resolve to pursue it, …

…Musui. More importantly though, he indirectly expresses a definite decline in the overall order of Japanese society. Through his implication of accomplices we are able to piece together a picture of Musui as only one example among many samurai who had tarnished the legendary reputation of the samurai class. Therefore Musui=s story is merely the concluding chapter of a Japanese dynasty decaying of atrophy like a human muscle that goes too long without use.