Temple of the Golden Pavilion Chapter 7

Mizoguchi's thoughts are being captured completely by the Golden Temple. Nothing else in life measures up to the Golden temple and therefore Mizoguchi is never able to enjoy and experience life. The black dog seems to be significant because Mizoguchi says that it wanders through a dark world, much like Mizoguchi feels he does. At first I think Mizoguchi is embarrassed to see his Superior with the geisha because he believes that his Superior wants to keep his actions secret. It was odd that Mizoguchi just laughed at the Superior when he called Mizoguchi a fool. Perhaps Mizoguchi was laughing at the situation because it was so bizarre. Mizoguchi becomes upset with the Superior because the Superior never shows any emotion. I think Mizoguchi is looking for a way to communicate or connect with the Superior, but because he doesn't show any emotion Mizoguchi cannot do so. Perhaps Mizoguchi buys the photo of the geisha because he is trying to get the superior to pay attention to him. When the Superior informs Mizoguchi that he not longer has any intention of one day making him superior of the Golden temple, Mizoguchi is surprised at hearing the actual words from the Superior, yet he realizes that he should have been expecting such news. Mizoguchi's odd behavior and his lacking effort in school lead the Superior to change his mind. Since everyone has become cold and hostile to Mizoguchi he starts to become even more isolated. Mizoguchi wants to leave for a while because he probably feels that he needed to have some time to think, some time away from all of the people and places that he had let down. I'm not really sure why Mizoguchi chooses to go to the sea but while he is there looking into the water the idea of burning the temple occurs to him.