The Sound of Waves Reflective Statement
Working on this IO has greatly aided in my understanding of the cultural and contextual aspects of Yukio Mishima’s The Sound of Waves. Whether it be through the aspects I researched, or those that my other group members did, I gained a deeper understanding of just how thoroughly involved in the novel Mishima’s own biases and ideals are ingrained.
While knowing the background of an author is not always key in understanding their work, I believe, after the IO, that in the case of Yukio Mishima it is. He reaped the benefits of a Western education and many more western activities, yet strove almost entirely for a traditional Japan reminiscent of how it was before the US occupation in the aftermath of WWII. This is extremely evident in the island life of Uta Jima and its literal isolation from everything else. Mishima’s personal ideals explain just why it was that all of the antagonistic characters were influenced by Western culture, and why in the end the traditional-valued Shinji and Hatsue won out.
Another aspect explained by Mishima’s background and personal life is the way in which he describes the human form. The poetic, innocent, and detailed description of the human form that he used within The Sound of Waves stuck out for many of the students within the class, especially as we are a Western audience. But in light of Mishima’s own views of the body, almost as a literal piece of art, it makes sense. He viewed the body in a way reminiscent of the Greeks, and suddenly the descriptions of Shinji and Hatuse’s bodies make complete sense.
It has also been brought to light just how thoroughly The Sound of Waves strives to present characters and society which follow many Japanese ideals for such things. The character traits of Shinji, Hatsue, and Shinji’s mother can all easily fall under an umbrella of Shinto ideals, as does the prevalence of nature. Along with that, Uta Jima contains a remarkably unified community, something often strove for in Japanese life.
While knowing the background of an author is not always key in understanding their work, I believe, after the IO, that in the case of Yukio Mishima it is. He reaped the benefits of a Western education and many more western activities, yet strove almost entirely for a traditional Japan reminiscent of how it was before the US occupation in the aftermath of WWII. This is extremely evident in the island life of Uta Jima and its literal isolation from everything else. Mishima’s personal ideals explain just why it was that all of the antagonistic characters were influenced by Western culture, and why in the end the traditional-valued Shinji and Hatsue won out.
Another aspect explained by Mishima’s background and personal life is the way in which he describes the human form. The poetic, innocent, and detailed description of the human form that he used within The Sound of Waves stuck out for many of the students within the class, especially as we are a Western audience. But in light of Mishima’s own views of the body, almost as a literal piece of art, it makes sense. He viewed the body in a way reminiscent of the Greeks, and suddenly the descriptions of Shinji and Hatuse’s bodies make complete sense.
It has also been brought to light just how thoroughly The Sound of Waves strives to present characters and society which follow many Japanese ideals for such things. The character traits of Shinji, Hatsue, and Shinji’s mother can all easily fall under an umbrella of Shinto ideals, as does the prevalence of nature. Along with that, Uta Jima contains a remarkably unified community, something often strove for in Japanese life.