Expressions_of_Patriotism

Expressions of Patriotism Expressions of Patriotism shown in Yukio Mishima's "Patriotism" When one thinks of patriotism one may think of the love of one's country that can be often symbolized by the hanging of a flag or the singing of a national anthem. Many other people show the love of their country by joining the armed forces or even running for a political office. In Yukio Mishima's "Patriotism", love of the country is symbolized through a female's submission to a male in a relationship and through a patriotic suicide. Love of the country was symbolized by the submissiveness of the woman to her husband. In order to show love for the country, one must be submissive and willing to go to great lengths as in any relationship. Reiko recognized the fact that her husband was the head and she had to show respect just as she would to her country. "Not once did Reiko contradict her husband, nor did the lieutenant ever find reason to scold his wife." As if the country was her husband, Reiko asked permission to participate in the activity that would prove her loyalty--death. "I ask permission to accompany country, love, through, death, symbolized, patriotism, one, lieutenant, show, sexual, reiko, husband, yukio, time, suicide, submissiveness, sex, relationship, mishima's, last, great, act, woman, wife, urges, two, prove, permission, one's, now, just, intimacy, felt, ever, even, dying, another, willing, wild, way, wanting, waiting, violent, took, tonight, thus, thought, thinks, think, thing