Patriotism

Patriotism “Patriotism,” by Yukio Mishima, is a story of the effects of war on a person, his friendship and the country he loves. The story conveys very descriptive, emotional, and powerful imagery of their wedding night and their happy life. It has not been six months of their marriage that Lieutenant Shinji is facing a dilemma: In the morning he is to lead a company of Imperial army against his best friends, which he can’t do. There is no doubt in his decision to commit suicide. Reiko, with the expectation of a soldier’s wife, does not hesitate in his decision and follows his footsteps. This story illustrates psychological, emotional, and sociological damage war can do to a relationship, love, and patriotism. The author portrays very brief and glowing imagery about the characters on their wedding night and the day they commit suicide. Lieutenant Shinji and his wife Reiko, the protagonists, are dedicated, youthful, heroic, and beautiful. Mishima values youth of Shinji: “His expression was severe, and his dark brows and wide-gazing eyes well conveyed the clear integrity of youth” (696). Mishima refers a Reiko’s beauty as “shining serene like the moon after rain” (696). He puts five stars on her beauty and shinji, reiko, suicide, love, husband, happiness, war, patriotism, life, wife, story, mishima, lieutenant, friends, country, world, wedding, make-up, give, face, emotional, commits, commit, been, beauty, 696, youth, very, tonight, sociological, sexuality, returns, reiko’s, psychological, out, none