The Spider's Thread by Akutagawa Ryūnosuke
A renowned figure observes, from a celestial vantage, the tormented state of a notorious sinner condemned to perpetual punishment in a dark netherworld. Despite a life marred by cruelty and vice, this man had once shown a rare moment of compassion by sparing the life of a small creature. Moved by this singular act, the figure provides a slender, silvery thread—a lifeline offered from the realm above—that extends from Paradise down into the depths of suffering. The condemned man seizes upon this miraculous opportunity, grasping the thread with desperate hope of ascending toward redemption. With every ounce of effort, he climbs upward, convinced that salvation lies at the end of this single chance. As he ascends, however, his initial gratitude gives way to a selfish desire to monopolize the means of escape. Noting that countless other damned souls are also attempting to use the thread, his greed compels him to demand exclusive rights, blaming them for endangering his fragile hope. This act of avarice proves to be his undoing. The thread, incapable of supporting the combined weight of so many desperate souls, breaks suddenly. In an instant, the condemned man is cast back into the abyss, his ascent abruptly halted and his chance at salvation lost. Meanwhile, the celestial observer reflects silently, noting the tragedy of a soul unable to overcome its inherent selfishness despite a moment of rare virtue, as the serene beauty of Paradise remains indifferent to the sufferings below.
By Akutagawa Ryūnosuke · First published 1918 · Genre: Allegory, Philosophical Fiction, Religious Fiction · 1,295 words
First lines
One day the Buddha was sauntering alone on the brink of the lotus pond of Paradise.
The lotus flowers in bloom in the pond were all as white as pearls, and the golden pistils and stamens in their centers ceaselessly filled all the air with ineffable fragrance.
What this Textopian page supports
The Spider's Thread is listed on Textopian as a short story by Akutagawa Ryūnosuke, dated 1918 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Akutagawa Ryūnosuke
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Allegory, Philosophical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Fantasy, Short Story
- Length: 1,295 words
- Structure: 1 section, 36 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Spider's Thread by Akutagawa Ryūnosuke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Allegory — The narrative uses symbolic settings and characters to express moral and existential themes.
- Philosophical Fiction — It examines deep moral dilemmas and the nature of redemption through its reflective and thought-provoking narrative.
- Religious Fiction — The story is steeped in Buddhist imagery and themes, exploring spiritual concepts and the consequences of one's actions.
- Fantasy — The depiction of supernatural realms like Paradise and Hell and the fantastical spider's thread adds a fantastical dimension to the tale.
Tags
allegory · Buddhism · sin · redemption · afterlife · karma · morality · retribution · justice · fable · spirituality · existentialism