Investigation the Abjection in Edogawa Ranpo’s ‘The Caterpillar’

. Abjection is referred to a particular type of feeling which psychoanalytically signifies itself in a number of disciplines. In this regard, this paper aims at investigation of the concept of abjection in Edogawa Ranpo’s short story entitled ‘The Caterpillar’. Elaborated by Julia Kristeva, the French psychoanalyst, who was inspired by Lacan, abjection is the uncanny experiences or feelings which originally begin from the early age of a child when he/she can distinguish between the ‘I’ and ‘the other’. This knowledge of self means shattering the sense of repression and judgment which tears down the ego. The horror of witnessing such an incident, as Kristeva suggested, is profoundly sickening and the repulsion challenges the individual’s whole existence. The darkness of the human being can be undeniably disturbing and overwhelming for the human’s consciousness. Ranpo, the Japanese writer who has inspired the Japanese literature of mystery, created collections of stories and novels which are symbolically significant in terms of understanding the identity, self and others. The paper concentrates on the character of Sunoga, an army official whose disabilities resulting from the war are excruciating shocking and lead him to self-destruction. The abject reveals itself to be the character, himself.