In Akinari’s “Bewitched”, the main character and son of a prosperous fisherman Toyo-o is deceived by a woman named Manago. When he first meets Manago after taking shelter from a storm, he is drawn to her beauty and wishes to pursue her. When Toyo-o visits Manago at her house, she tells him how she wishes to marry him, and presents him with a sword. Manago tells him that the sword is that of her late husband, who was once a government official. When Toyo-o returns home, his family does not believe his story of Manago and accuses him of stealing the sword from the Kumano Gongen Shrine. Toyo-o is confused and tries to explain to the chief priest and samurai’s the story of Manago and how she gifted him the sword. After the men seek Manago, she disappears when thunder roars, and we later find out that she is deceiving Toyo-o in hopes that he will marry her and be under her spell.

Manago takes on the role of a woman, but is really the devil in serpent form. The sword was stolen by Manago, along with all other types of riches from the shrine depository. Manago lies by saying that her late husband’s spirit must have committed the crime. Her deceitfulness is later confirmed when a man spots her near the river and says “You devils! Again you are bewitching and deceiving human beings. How can you dare assume that shape and form before my very eyes!” (Akinari, 643) The image below is that of a Greek mythological female serpent named Lamia. Quite obviously, this directly relates to the story by depicting an image similar to what Manago might look like. Lamia is described as an evil murderer and thief, who like Manago, uses deception in her plot against humanity. Along with holding some kind of weapon, Lamia’s deep red eyes and other features portray villainous characteristics that correspond with those of Manago.