Chapters 1-4
Why would Mishima include the description of the island?(Chapter 1)
The description of the island shows the significance of nature and the close relationship that the people have with Uta-jima island. It shows how their lives are built around the nature of the sea and they rely of the the ecosystem around them.
Why was Hatsue mad at Shinji when the light-house keeper mentioned Chiyoko and Shinji being romantically together?
Hatsue was mad at Shinji when he was mentioned being together with Chyioko because Hatsue had fallen in love with Shinji and she couldn't bear seeing him with another women. She was jealous.
What does Shinji’s mother visiting Hatsue’s house tell us about her relationship with her son?
Shinji’s mother is brave and cares a lot about her son. Even though people might gossip about her, she still goes to talk to Hatsue’s father to help Shinji.
What did Hatsue's package given to Shinji represent in the book?
it represents Shinji's and Hatsue's strong relationship and their bond with eachother. It shows Hatsue hope for Shinji to come back to her.
Mishimas death represent his beliefs on turning Japan back to it traditional way and also represent his failed attempts in advocating for traditional Japan.
How does the author describing Shinji's home life help the readers understand his personality and his morals.
The author is showing Shinji's personality's and morals because in the book we can see that Shinji lives in a small home with a mother, brother, and no father. This can shape his mindset to try and earn money to help out his loved ones. During this horrible time for his mother and his brother still in school Shinji had to put a pause on his educational career and work on making money fast.
What does Shinji's reaction to the rumors of Hatsue and Yasuo getting married, show regarding Shinji's relationship with Hatsue?
This shows that Shinji has feeling for Hatsue as he was very concerned and eager to find out if she was actually getting "engaged" with Yasuo.
Why did the author write about Hatsue sending a letter to Shinji?
The author wrote this part to show that Hatsue and Shinji really care about each other. Even though her father won’t let her see Shinji, she still finds a way to talk to him. This shows their love is strong and real.
Why did the author include Chiyoko's confussion letter for her mother?
The author included Chiyoko confession letter because it shows Chiyoko's growth throughout the book even as a side character. It also brings to light how the rumor of Shinji and Hatsue was false.
What where Mishima's views about Japan and how would he fix them?
Mishima believed that Japan should embrace their old traditional values. He argued against globalism and how it would dilute their traditional ways.
How does the inclusion of the death of Shinji´s father contribute to Shinji´s character? (Chapter 4)
Shinji became a fisherman despite the fact that his father died in the sea. This shows his bravery and sense of responsibility since his mother is becoming old and his younger brother is in school. He feels a sense of responsibility since he is the oldest and wants to follow in his fathers footsteps.
How does the author mentioning how Yasuo wants to marry Hatsue foreshadows future conflicts?
The conflict that the author is foreshadowing is man vs. man because Shinji and Yasuo will go against each other to earn Hatsue's love.
How does the author show that Shinji is Hiroshi's role model, when he visits a movie theater for the first time?
Shinji becomes a role model to his little brother as he is having his own experiences and hopes to share it with his mother by bringing her to visit too. This shows that Hiroshi is becoming selfless, just like his older brother.
How does Hatsue's picture represent Shinji's and Hatsue relationship throughout the book?
It represents Shinji's and Hatsue relationship because it symbolizes hope for their relationship to survive during Shinji's trip on the cargo ship. At the end of the book it sybolizes their happy ending after all the conflicts faced
How does Mishima not being fit for the military shown in the book?
Mishima being rejected from the military would be shown in the book by Shinj's world crumbled just like the authors after the war started. Shinji lost his dad. While Mishima lost a chance to serve his country and it put a mental toll on him.
Read the following quote
"So he calls Hatsue back, has her put back in his family register and decides to adopt a husband into the family for her, to have someone to carry on his name"(Mishima, 18)
Why did the author include this and how it develops the plot?
The author included this because it shows the social norms of marrying their children off to continue their bloodline and represents how people are being forced to married young.
What idea was the author trying to illustrate in describing how the island is far away from any other island?
The idea that the author is trying to illustrate is that the island is a fortitude and is isolated from Japan's mainland. It is a long journey their and back.
Read the following:
"...roared fiercely as it dashed against the rocks...the god is terribly angry. What could have made him so angry?... Don't you know, Hiroshi? I mean what your brother Shinji did to Miyata's daughter Hatsue - I mean omeko - that's what. And that's what the god is angry about."(99-101)
Why did the author write about the boys blaming the sea-god and fighting about Shinji?
It showed how the people on the island believe nature gets angry when someone does something wrong. The boys think the sea-god is mad because of what Shinji did, and that’s why the waves are so strong.
What is Mishima's purpose in harshly contrasting Shinji's heroic actions with Yasuo's inaction and cowardice in the face of danger?
He uses Yasuo as a foil to highlight Shinji's genuine bravery, selflessness, and physical capability, which Mishima values above superficial traits like wealth or social standing.
"Mishima planned these images himself, choosing the costumes, poses, and even the color of the fake blood. He wanted them published right after his suicide,"
What was the purpose of Yukio Mishima creating the photo collection 'The Death of a Man'?
The purpose of the photo collection was to make sure that he lived passed his death. Yukio Mishima wrote about wanting to achieve immortality, and used the form of art to become immortal thoro a collection.
"God, let the seas be calm, the fish plentiful, and our village more and more prosperous. I am still young, but in time let me become a fisherman among fishermen. Let me have much knowledge in the ways of the sea, in the ways of fish, in the ways of boats, in the ways of the weather … in everything. Let me be a man with surpassing skill in everything. … Please protect my gentle mother and my brother, who is still a child. When my mother enters the sea in the diving season, please protect her body somehow from all the many dangers. … Then there’s a different sort of request I’d like to make. … Some day let even such a person as me be granted a good-natured, beautiful bride … say someone like Terukichi Miyata’s returned daughter. …”
How does the authors' inclusion of religion convey the connection between the culture of the people and the nature of their environment? (Chapter 3)
The inclusion of religion shows how Shinji prays to God for the health of his family, representing the culture of putting family first, and praying for many fish and calm seas representing the connection the God has with the nature.
How does the author killing of Shinji's father represent his own relationship with his father ?
We know that in the book that Shinji lost his father during the war at a young age. Also in real life we found out that Mishima had a very strong and healthy relationship with his mother and grandparents but not his father. His father disagrees on his views and what he is trying to pursue.
How does the author use Chiyoko’s feelings and actions to show the difference between how people look on the outside and what they feel on the inside?
The author shows that even though Chiyoko looks calm on the outside, she feels guilty and ashamed on the inside because she caused trouble for Shinji and Hatsue. No one knows it was her, but she can’t stop thinking about what she did. This shows that people can hide strong emotions and regrets. The author uses Chiyoko’s plan to confess as a way to show that taking responsibility for your actions is hard, but it’s the right thing to do.
How does Mishima use the events of these chapters, particularly the storm incident, to serve his purpose of presenting Shinji as a hero?
Mishima uses these events to serve his purpose of idealizing Shinji as a model of natural and uncorrupted virtue. The storm incident is not just a plot device; it's a symbol where Shinji's inherent goodness, strength, and connection to the sea are dramatically showcased.
How does Mishima's relationship with his lover represent how he showed Shinji's and Hatsue's love?
Mishima had a complicated relationship with his lover .He dated multiple women and in the book it would be shown how Shinji talks to Chiyoko and Hatsue. Hatsue gets mad whenever Shiji gets mentioned dating Chiyoko.