Holy cannibalism in Deep River: eucharistic reflections on "The Case of Kiguchi"

Endō Shūsaku's final novel Deep River weaves theological and sacramental motifs into its narrative. This article situates the novel within the Catholic literary tradition that affirms the sacramentality of artistic imagination, focusing on Eucharistic themes in the two cannibal stories of chapt...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Nelson-Hashimoto, Joshua Ryo (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2025
In: Literature and theology
Year: 2025, Volume: 39, Issue: 3, Pages: 254-267
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Endō Shūsaku's final novel Deep River weaves theological and sacramental motifs into its narrative. This article situates the novel within the Catholic literary tradition that affirms the sacramentality of artistic imagination, focusing on Eucharistic themes in the two cannibal stories of chapter 5, "The Case of Kiguchi. " By examining these narratives, it offers an alternative reading of flesh consumption that underscores the salvific potential of survivor cannibalism and human sacrifice. Eucharistic reflections on chapter 5 illuminate how sacramental grace operates in Endō's fictional world, contributing to broader conversations on the interplay between sacramental theology and literature.
ISSN:1477-4623
Contains:Enthalten in: Literature and theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1093/litthe/fraf035