Silence
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
Themes
All Themes Apostasy Religious Arrogance Faith Western Religion vs. Eastern Culture Persecution
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Sebastien Rodrigues Francisco Garrpe Christovao Ferreira / Sawano Chuan Kichijiro Inoue The Interpreter Mokichi Ichizo The One-Eyed Man Valignano
Terms
All Terms Apostasy Fumie
Symbols
All Symbols The Sea Christ’s Face
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Silence

by Shūsaku Endō
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Prologue
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Apostasy Theme Icon
    Apostasy
  • Religious Arrogance Theme Icon
    Religious Arrogance
  • Faith Theme Icon
    Faith
  • Western Religion vs. Eastern Culture Theme Icon
    Western Religion vs. Eastern Culture
  • Persecution Theme Icon
    Persecution
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Sebastien Rodrigues
  • Francisco Garrpe
  • Christovao Ferreira / Sawano Chuan
  • Kichijiro
  • Inoue
  • The Interpreter
  • Mokichi
  • Ichizo
  • The One-Eyed Man
  • Valignano
Terms
  • All Terms
  • Apostasy
  • Fumie
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Sea Symbol Icon
    The Sea
  • Christ’s Face Symbol Icon
    Christ’s Face
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Valignano

Silence Terms

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Apostasy

Apostasy

Apostasy is the act of renouncing Christianity, regarded by the Catholic Church as the ultimate, unpardonable sin. Within the novel, apostasy is always committed by stepping one’s foot onto Christ’s image on a fumie. read analysis of Apostasy

Fumie

A fumie is metal engraving of Jesus Christ’s face fixed onto a plank of wood. The Japanese government makes its own fumies specifically so its citizens and prisoners can step on it to declare their… read analysis of Fumie
Previous
Valignano
Previous
Valignano
Next
Apostasy
Next
Apostasy

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