Student Question
Who are the protagonists and antagonists in "He-y, Come On Ou-t" by Shinichi Hoshi?
Quick answer:
In "He-y, Come On Ou-t" by Shinichi Hoshi, the protagonists and antagonists are open to interpretation. The hole, representing the earth, can be viewed as the protagonist if perceived through an environmental lens, as it protects or avenges itself against human exploitation. Conversely, the people, who irresponsibly dispose of waste, serve as the antagonists, symbolizing humanity's detrimental impact on the environment.
This is a very good (and tough!) question which is open to debate. It is not a traditional story in which there are easily identifiable protagonists and antagonists. I think the hole (the earth) can be read as the protagonist, if we read this through the lens of an environmentally conscious reader. The earth is protecting itself or perhaps having its vengeance on those who are destroying it. In this reading, the hole is the protagonist and the people are the antagonists because they are ruining the environment and even their own lives by creating harmful hazardous waste.
I think there could be different ways to read into this story and this question, whether you empathize with the hole or not.
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