How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"I want you to think over two things [...] One is that the persistent affection of an ugly woman is an intolerable burden for a man; the other, that a barren woman should become a wife." (7.28)
Here, Inoue sums up his view of Japan's relationship to the West. He sees the Church as an "ugly woman" and its missionary work as "persistent affection"—in other words, he doesn't want her as his bae, but she doesn't understand—and will never understand—that he's just not that into her. Unlike European governments, the Church doesn't even have anything to offerJapan in terms of trade deals or military alliances, which makes it a "barren woman" in the eyes of the Japanese government.
Quote #8
He had come to this country to lay down his life for other men, but instead of that the Japanese were laying down their lives one by one for him. (7.101)
In truth, this isn't why Rodrigues came to Japan—he only came to learn the truth about Father Ferreira. He didn't come out of love for the Japanese. He didn't come to spread the gospel. He didn't even come to be a martyr. He came for his own reasons.