Themes of Existentialism and Nihilism in Yukio Mishima's Work

Yukio Mishima develops the themes of Existentialism and Nihilism through the characters Noboru and Ryuji

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Outline existential schools of thought Distinguish between existentialism and nihilism Concisely present examples of existentialism and nihilism in The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea Speculate about Mishima s stance on existentialism

A chiefly 20th-century philosophical movement prevalent in Europe assuming that people are entirely free and thus responsible for what they make of themselves Existentialism is the philosophy that deals with the subjective existence of an individual.

Friedrich Nietzsche S ren Kierkegaard Blaise Pascal Jean-Paul Sartre Franz Kafka Fyodor Dostoevsky Albert Camus Paul Tillich

Focuses on concrete existence Existence precedes essence Angst Freedom Facticity Authenticity/Inauthenticity Despair

Values determined by ones own existence vs. Values do not exist but rather are falsely invented Existentialists believe that one can create value and meaning, whilst nihilists will deny this.

Yukio Mishima followed many samurai teachings that coincide with views resembling typical European existentialism Authentication Life is meaningless Lack of forward-thinking/retrospective ideas

If I were an amoeba, he thought, with an infinitesimal body, I could defeat ugliness. A man isn t tiny or giant enough to defeat anything.

If If I were an amoeba infinitesimal man isn t tiny or giant enough to defeat anything. amoeba, he thought, with an infinitesimal body, I could defeat ugliness. A man isn t tiny or giant enough to defeat anything. A Seeking authentication The cry of despair: There is no purpose.

But as the years passed, he grew indifferent to the lure of exotic lands. He found himself in the same predicament all sailors share: essentially he belonged neither to the land nor the sea.

But as the years passed, he grew indifferent to the lure of exotic lands. He found himself in the same predicament all sailors share: essentially he belonged neither to the land nor the sea. indifferent essentially he belonged neither to the land nor the sea. Apathy Attempt to separate self from society

But life aboard ship taught him only the regularity of natural law and the dynamic stability of the wobbling world.

But life aboard ship taught him only the regularity stability of the wobbling world. regularity of natural law and the dynamic wobbling world. Separation from society

There must be a special destiny in store for me; a glittering special-order kind no ordinary man would be permitted.

There must be a special destiny me; a glittering ordinary man special destiny in store for glittering special-order kind no ordinary man would be permitted. no Self-importance

... And his favorite one was called I cant Give Up The Sailor s Life. The Whistle wails and streamers tear, Our ship slips away from the pier. Now, the sea s my home, I decided that But even I must shed a tear As I wave, boys, I wave so sad At the harbor town where my heart was glad.

... And his favorite one was called I Cant Give Up The Sailor s Life. The Whistle wails and streamers tear Our ship slips away Now, the sea s my home, I decided that But even I must shed a tear As I wave, boys, I wave so sad At the harbor town where by heart was glad tear, slips away from the pier. shed a tear sad glad. Despair-driven diction

Exaltation swelled in Ryujis voice when he touched on the misery of his life, and while he was recalling the total in his bankbook, he couldn t help digressing from the sea s power to and benevolence, which was the story he had longed to tell, in order to boast about his own prowess like a very ordinary man indeed. It was just another particular aspect of his vanity.

Exaltation touched on the misery of his life he was recalling the total in his bankbook, he couldn t help digressing from the sea s power to and benevolence had longed to tell, in order to boast about his own prowess It was just another particular aspect of his vanity. Exaltation swelled in Ryuji s voice when he misery of his life, and while benevolence, which was the story he prowess like a very ordinary man ordinary man indeed. vanity.

And thats your hero? the chief said and when he had finished. His thin red upper lip had a tendency to curl when he spoke. Don t you realize there is no such thing as a hero in the world? But he s different. He s really going to do something... terrific.

And thats your hero? when he had finished. His thin red upper lip had a tendency to curl when he spoke. Don t you realize there is no such thing as a hero in the world? But he s different something... terrific that s your hero? the chief said and there is no such thing as a hero in the world? different. He s really going to do terrific. Downplay of admiration Justification for admiration

There isnt any fear in existence itself, or any uncertainty, but living creates it. And society is basically meaningless, a Roman mixed bath. And school, school is just society in miniature: that s why we re always being ordered around. A bunch of blind men tell us what to do, tear our unlimited ability to shreds.

There isnt any fear in existence itself, or any uncertainty, but living creates it. is basically meaningless bath. And school, school is just society in miniature: that s why we re always being ordered around what to do, tear our unlimited ability to shreds There isn t any fear in existence itself, or any uncertainty, but living creates it. And society meaningless, a Roman mixed ordered around. A bunch of blind men tell us tear our unlimited ability to shreds. Self-justification/authentication Downplay of society s traits

...murder would fill those gaping caves in much the same way that a crack along its face will fill a mirror. Then they would achieve real power over existence."

...murder would fill those gaping caves much the same way that a crack along its face will fill a mirror. Then they would achieve real power over existence fill those gaping caves in real power over existence power over existence." Emptiness Self-justification

The death had transfigured the kitten into a perfect, autonomous world.

The death had transfigured the kitten into a perfect perfect, autonomous autonomous world world. Search for beauty in abnormal places

Noboru, as he affected childishness, was standing guard over the perfection of the adults, the moment. His was the sentinel s role. The less time they h ad, the better. The shorter this meeting was, the less perfection would be marred. For the moment, as a man, leaving a woman behind to voyage around the world, as a sailor and as a Second Mate, Ryuji was perfect.

Noboru, as he affected childishness, was standing guard over the perfection adults, the moment. His was the sentinel s role. The less time they had, the better. The shorter this meeting was, the would be marred leaving a woman behind to voyage around the world, as a sailor and as a Second Mate, Ryuji was perfect perfection of the the less perfection perfection less perfection would be marred. For the moment, as a man, perfect. Quest for perfection Attempt to preserve what little freedom/happiness exists

It was time to abandon the dream he had cherished too long. Time to realize that no specially tailored glory was waiting for him" (110).

It was time to abandon the dream cherished too long. Time to realize that no specially tailored glory abandon the dream he had no specially tailored glory was waiting for him Despair

The only people in this world I really trust are my fans even if they do forget you so fast, Yoriko mumbled as she lit an imported women s cigarette.

The only people in this world I really trust are my fans even if they do forget you fast, Yoriko mumbled as she lit an imported women s cigarette. even if they do forget you so Justification of lifestyle

There is no such thing as a good father because the role itself is bad. Strict fathers, soft fathers, nice moderate fathers one s as bad as another. They stand in the way of our progress while they try to burden us with their inferiority complexes and their unrealized aspirations and their resentments, and their ideals, and the weaknesses they ve never told anyone about, and their sins and their sweeter-than-honey dreams, and the maxims they ve never had the courage to live by they d like to unload the all that silly crap on us, all of it!

There is no such thing as a good father because the role itself is bad. Strict fathers, soft fathers, nice moderate fathers one s as bad as another They stand in the way try to burden us with their inferiority complexes and their unrealized aspirations resentments weaknesses their sins and their sweeter-than-honey dreams, and the maxims they ve never had the courage to live by they d like to unload the all that silly crap one s as bad as another. stand in the way of our progress while they unrealized aspirations and their resentments, and their ideals, and the weaknesses they ve never told anyone about, and all that silly crap on us, all of it! Angst

"All six of us are geniuses. And the world, as you know, is empty

All six of us are geniuses you know, is empty. geniuses. And the world, as empty. Authentication/inauthentication

Right, he knew, in terms of a fathers moral obligation. Most books and magazines would agree.

Right, he knew, in terms of a fathers moral obligation. Most books and magazines would agree. Most books and magazines would agree. Justification

Gradually, as he talked to the boys, Ryuji had come to understand himself as Noboru imagined him Now perilous death had rejected him. And glory, no doubt of that Want some tea? Still immersed in his dream, he drank down the tepid tea.

Favours Existentialism Opposes Existentialism Existentialist characters are depicted as wiser Honourable similarities coincide with traditional Japanese values Uses the novel as a vehicle of authentication Values depicted as subjective Existential characters suffer despair and angst Desperate situations seem to lead to irrational actions Characters have difficulty conforming to society s norms

He stares at death with passionate attention and this fascination liberates him.