Our best stories reflect our character, with contradictions and complexities in place and in perspective. They show what drives us to do what we do, and how our acts become who we are, without cliche. Our best storytellers present instead of interpret, which allows us to engage intellectually and emotionally.

Rashomon is well-told because it does not pass final judgement on any character, or dictate which version of the tale is true. It would narrow the scope of the story to do so, since all versions of the tale have been, and will be, true at some time. Each point of view is presented clearly, with all bias in each point of view from the speaker.

If there is a point of view from outside the tale, it may be this: the hard rain falling coincides with the priest’s crisis of faith. Both abate with the woodsman’s act of kindness, which is selfless, true, and good—the only act in the story unambiguously so.