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Essay / Inhumane Policies in Yukio Mishima's 'The Sailor Who Fell Out of Grace with the Sea' one of the most controversial to date. famous writers from Japan. It could be argued that the novel has many connections to Japanese history, alluding to various aspects of Japan's surrender during World War II. Translated by John Nathan, the novel is set in Yokohama, Japan, after World War II, around a boy named Noboru. Noboru is a member of a gang of wild teenagers who reject social norms, discuss the uselessness of humanity and the meaninglessness of life, and demonstrate impartiality towards emotion and other conventions typical. When Noboru's widowed mother Fusako meets and eventually falls in love with a sailor named Ryuji, Noboru and his gang initially idolize her for her quest for glory. However, this idolatry quickly turns to disapproval due to the idea that Ryuji decides to leave the sea, abandoning his "pursuit of glory" for love, revealing an alternative, tender and romantic side. The novel focuses heavily on two major events: the murder of the kitten and the death of Ryuji, which arise from the characterization of the gang, expressing its impartiality and exposing many unexpected traits of these young boys, perhaps stemming from their naivety. Through the portrait of the gang, Mishima suggests that adolescence is marked by occasional immorality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Mishima uses the lens and perspective of Noboru, one of the gang members, to highlight the influence of the young leader about the gang, commenting on the malleable nature of teenagers, easily manipulated by peer pressure. The way Noboru and the rest of the gang members interact with the leader emphasizes how they look up to him, always conforming to his opinions and willing to exempt themselves from confinement to social norms. There are many cases in which this manipulation and peer pressure was evident. The first instance occurred early in the novel, when the gang was talking about Ryuji and the leader was questioning Noboru's favorable opinion of the sailor. He said, “And he’s your hero?” ". Mishima's use of a rhetorical question expresses the power of the leader's opinions, emphasizing their importance. Additionally, it suggests the dismay and disappointment he feels toward Noboru, idolizing someone who doesn't deserve it. In the same conversation, we see the force of persuasion and manipulation of the leader. “He probably wants your old lady’s money; that will be the punchline. First, he's going to suck her of everything she has and then, bang, bam, see you soon, lady, that'll be the punchline. In this quote, the leader opposes Noboru's opinion towards Ruiji. The use of repetition emphasizes the phrase "and that will be the downfall", implying that it is a joke. However, the onomatopoeia, the rhymes and the frankness with the words “bang, bam, see you soon ma’am” show the determined behavior of the leader, with an aggressive tone. This also contains a subtle humorous connotation, alluding to youth and childishness. The second time Noboru and the gang are influenced by the leader was before Noboru committed his gruesome murder of the kitten, "he (Noboru) checked himself out of pity", suggesting the internal conflict/struggle that Noboru faced. been confronted, and wondering whether or not he should pity the kitten. Regardless of Noboru's contemplation; However, it was ultimately Noboru who recalled the leader's opinions which led Noboru to massacre thekitten, remembering that "the leader had insisted that it would take acts like this to fill the great voids in the world." Mishima uses a simile to compare Noboru's dilemma with "a lighted window seen from an express train, flickers for a moment in the distance and disappears." At this moment, the express train, known for its speed, is the symbol of Noboru's life. emotions: first flickering, contemplating both sides, and finally gradually disappearing, barely visible. This highlights the distance between Noboru and his emotions, due to the leader's influences. This emotional detachment is something the gang desires and the leader strongly believes in, showing strength rather than vulnerability. Therefore, during the murder, Noboru constantly thought about the leader's opinions, obsessed with the idea that the leader was only right. The final instance where peer pressure is evident in the novel is in the final scene of the novel, when the gang poisoned Ryuuji. "Here is your tea," Noboru said to Ryuji, "placing a dark brown plastic cup near Ryuji's cheek. Absently, Ryuji took it. He noticed that Noboru's hand was shaking slightly." Dark diction, evident through the dark, murky, mud-like colors, when describing the cup, foreshadows events opposing Noboru's beliefs, as if Noboru's emotions are entering uncharted territory. , the fact that Noboru was shaking slightly suggests that Noboru was uncomfortable with what he was doing, most likely asked by the leader, manipulated and heavily influenced, illustrating the sometimes unprincipled nature of adolescence through characterization. of the gang's opinions and reasoning in favor of killing the kitten, Mishima is able to portray the teenagers' completely irrational and exploitative actions for personal gain due to their somewhat tunnel vision and nihilistic views on the existence of the gang. humanity, they committed inhumane acts that involved the murder of a kitten and were the reason for Ryuji's death, based on delusional and irrational reasoning. This was evident in the scene in which the gang captured and gruesomely killed a kitten in order to practice impartiality and objectivity. This shows that these teenagers are willing to exploit an animal for training. The gang believes that emotion equates to vulnerability, while a lack of emotion suggests power. So, by killing the kitten, the gang is able to practice invulnerability. The use of an abrupt choice of words when Noboru "swung the kitten high above his head and slammed it against the log" shows the horrific nature in which the kitten was killed, highlighting the inhumane actions to which the gang participated to be invulnerable. Moreover, the result of their actions is visible through the vibrant and energetic diction, after the death of the kitten. The other five boys in the gang watched with "their glowing eyes," and Noboru felt "a resplendent power coursing through him to the tips of his fingers." This light and electricity is a symbol of energy, with Noboru being ecstatic, full of positivity as if he had conquered a mission. This is also demonstrated through the comparison of Noboru feeling "like a giant of a man", further emphasizing the power Noboru feels, as if he is above and better than everyone. This extremely cruel and immoral act empowered Noboru, incredibly unsympathetic towards the kitten and unconstrained by the social norms people conform to, showing the lengths teenagers are willing to go for personal gain. Through the development of Ryuji's character and his actions throughout the story. In this.
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