Theme

The main theme explored in the short story “Monster in a Ryokan” by Mary Roach is the contrast between cultures, particularly between the East and the West. Through the main character, readers get to know how different people act in different parts of the world, but they also get to compare their own cultures with Japanese culture.

The contrast between cultures

This theme is illustrated by the narrator’s perception of Japan and the country’s customs.

The narrator is American and views herself as an average person in her own country, but soon comes to the conclusion that she is seen as a monster in Japan. She does not know the customs and traditions of Japan and constantly makes mistakes or breaks tradition. She fails to realize that she should take off her shoes before entering a room, she constantly trips over the furniture, and she finally cleans herself in a bath which is solely destined for relaxation, not for cleaning.

The contrast between the East and the West becomes clearer when the narrator begins to talk about America. On the one hand, in Japan, everything seems to be tiny and to serve a specific purpose. On the other hand, in America everything seems to be exaggeratedly big and useless:

In America, a single-occupancy room must contain a bed (…) large enough to accommodate lumberjacks...