40 pages • 1-hour read
The Cat Who Saved Books
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.
The Labyrinths
A central symbol in The Cat Who Saved Books is the labyrinths, allegorical realms that physically manifest corrupted philosophies on books and reading. Each labyrinth is a self-contained world built on a twisted truth, forcing Rintaro to confront a different aspect of how modern society devalues literature. These surreal spaces are the primary vehicle for exploring the novel’s central theme, The Corruption of Reading in the Modern World. The first labyrinth’s antagonist, for instance, imprisons books in glass cases, treating them as status symbols rather than companions. He views his collection of more than 50,000 books as a monument to his intellect, turning literature into a series of conquests. Rintaro must dismantle these flawed ideologies not only to save the books but also to clarify and strengthen his own convictions about the purpose of reading, transforming him from a passive book lover into an active defender of their soul.
Each labyrinth highlights a specific threat to meaningful reading. The second labyrinth, ruled by the Mutilator of Books, critiques the obsession with efficiency by showing a scholar who reduces literary classics to single-sentence summaries in the name of speed. He proudly condenses a famous short story to the line “Melos was furious” (76). This world directly opposes the philosophy of Rintaro’s grandfather, who taught that reading difficult books is like climbing a “tall mountain” where the struggle is part of the reward. By defeating the Mutilator, Rintaro champions slow, deliberate reading as essential for cultivating empathy. The third labyrinth extends this critique to commercialism, presenting a publisher who argues that “sales are everything” and that books are disposable products (127). Through these symbolic confrontations, the novel argues that true engagement with literature requires patience and sincerity, thematically connecting to The Power of Books to Cultivate Empathy.
Rintaro’s Grandfather’s Wisdom
The memory of Rintaro’s grandfather’s sayings is the novel’s central motif, providing the philosophical and moral compass that guides Rintaro’s journey. This wisdom, evident in phrases like his mantra, that “[b]ooks have tremendous power” (12), provides the foundation for every argument that Rintaro makes against the antagonists in the labyrinths. Initially, these are just memories of a loved one, but as the labyrinth journeys force Rintaro to defend literature, he transforms his grandfather’s passive teachings into his own active philosophy.
In the first labyrinth, he recalls a crucial warning that his grandfather gave him when he was retreating too deeply into the world of books: “Books have tremendous power. But take care. It’s the book that holds the power, not you” (40). This memory allows Rintaro to dismantle the prideful belief of the Imprisoner of Books: that owning and reading many books makes a person inherently superior. His grandfather’s words here highlight one of the novel’s core themes, The Power of Books to Cultivate Empathy, by illustrating that the true strength of literature lies not in accumulating knowledge but in cultivating empathy and understanding.
Rintaro’s grandfather taught him that reading is like climbing a “tall mountain”: It’s a challenging endeavor, but the rewards are a broader perspective on the world and a deeper connection to humanity. Each time Rintaro recalls his grandfather’s wise words, he gains the clarity and courage to confront a misguided worldview, such as the reduction of stories to summaries or their commodification for profit. This motif charts Rintaro’s internal growth as he learns to not only cherish his grandfather’s wisdom but also embody it.
Natsuki Books
The secondhand bookshop at the heart of the story, Natsuki Books, symbolizes a pure and authentic relationship with literature. It represents a sanctuary where people cherish books not for their commercial value or as status symbols but for their intrinsic power to offer wisdom and companionship. The shop’s collection, filled with well-loved classics rather than trendy bestsellers, embodies the philosophy that Rintaro inherited from his grandfather: that books, when treated with care, become friends that “inspire and support you” (12). In the face of the antagonists’ corrupted views about the value of reading for pride, efficiency, or profit, the humble bookshop is the novel’s moral and philosophical center. It’s the physical manifestation of an ideal, a space that nurtures and protects the empathetic connection between a reader and a story from corrupting forces in the outside world. In this respect, the bookshop as a symbol thematically counters The Corruption of Reading in the Modern World.
Initially, the bookshop also symbolizes Rintaro’s grief and withdrawal. After his grandfather’s death, it becomes his “safe space,” a refuge where he can retreat from a world he finds overwhelming. This connects directly to the theme of The Courage to Emerge From Isolation. However, the shop is simultaneously the source of the strength he needs to overcome that isolation. It’s imbued with his grandfather’s values, which become Rintaro’s weapons in the ideological battles of the labyrinths. Furthermore, as the literal portal to these magical realms, Natsuki Books is the crucial intersection between the real world and the world of ideas. Because it’s the ground upon which Rintaro must wage his struggle for both the soul of literature and his own courage, the bookshop is the heart of the novel.
Unlock the meaning behind every key symbol & motif
See how recurring imagery, objects, and ideas shape the narrative.
- Explore how the author builds meaning through symbolism
- Understand what symbols & motifs represent in the text
- Connect recurring ideas to themes, characters, and events