The Indissociability between literature and society in “Patriotism” (1961) by Mishima Yukio

Abstract

Based on the reflection about one of the most renowned short stories written by Mishima Yukio, known by constant suicide references, it is attempted to show that selfimmolation is recovered in “Patriotism” (1961), and several times in others Mishima’s literary works, by strongly rooted and historically constructed cultural elements. Differing from the vision normally attributed by occidentals that the Japanese society rigidity and its conventions are the very responsible for the mental individual’s vulnerability, leading to the point of committing suicide, we see the necessity of amplifying the categories of comprehension concerning a culture extremely founded into ideals yet not well clarified for those who do not belong to it. We also believe that, maybe, literature can be the way of effectively doing this elucidation, since it cannot be isolated from the culture from which it comes.