The Lower Depths

Otaki moves through the tenement, offering small comforts like sweets and light conversation. She embodies a simple, compassionate presence amid hardship, often acting as a quiet observer of the tenants’ schemes. Her steadiness provides a brief counterpoint to the more volatile actions around her.

Sutekichi is the self-appointed leader of the tenement’s underworld, charming yet calculating. He flirts with Osugi while pursuing Okayo, and his jealousy seeds the plot’s most violent turn. He embodies survival at any moral cost, torn between affection and self-preservation.

Osugi wields power over the tenants and over Sutekichi, using manipulation to protect her own interests. Her jealousy and strategic mind drive scheming schemes and contribute to the murder’s climate of fear. She embodies the ruthlessness lurking behind domestic respectability.

Okayo starts wary of Sutekichi but gradually sees a softer side of him, stirring conflicting feelings. Her evolving perception of trust and danger shapes the story’s emotional arc. She becomes a pivot around which loyalty and disillusionment turn.

Tomekichi is a craftsman who endures personal sorrow, including his ailing wife Asa’s decline. His outward calm masks inner fatigue and a sense of helplessness in the face of the harsh world around him. He represents the quieter, more disciplined strain of tenement life.

Rokubei is the volatile gambler whose confrontations with others intensify the combustible atmosphere. His clash with Sutekichi and Osugi culminates in violence, making him a pivotal figure in the tragedy. He embodies the risks of vice and the fragility of the players’ world.

Kahei acts as a grandfatherly mediator, attempting to calm disputes and guide the tenants toward harmony. His calm presence hints at a hidden past, lending an air of mystery and ambiguity. He represents hope within the crowd, even as he keeps secrets.

Osen is the sisterly figure in Osugi’s circle, whose vulnerability and kindness contrast with the more calculating tenants. Her situation underscores the vulnerability of women in this environment and adds emotional depth to the web of relationships. She becomes a barometer for the community’s shifting loyalties.