Patriotism

3 Pages 658 Words

In the story “Patriotism,” by Yukio Mishima, thirty-one year old, Lieutenant Shinji Takeyma is a proud strong Japanese soldier who has great patriotism for his Imperial Majesties. Shinji is faced with the knowledge of going to battle against his close friends who are also his colleagues. This story presents an ethical statement about acting on you believe to be right. The lieutenant chooses to take his own his own life rather than battling his closest friends. Sadly his wife Rieko follows him, taking her own life out of loyalty and respect for her husband.
Every morning before he leaves for duty, he and Reiko would stand before the God shelf and bow before the Imperial Majesties. This is a routine tradition that they did to show respect and their honor to the Imperial Majesties. Both Shinji and Rieko are round characters in the story. They both have great loyalty, their loyalty to one another, to the Imperial Majesties and to his colleagues/ close friends. Shinji shows great will, power and courage to take his own life: “tonight I shall cut my stomach” (699), he says to Reiko calmly. They both make a pledge to die together. Reiko lays out her dagger symbolizing her love and devotion for her husband, showing him that she belongs to him. The book states, “ husband and wife should be harmonious” (697), in peace and pact as one. Shinji shows a lot of trust in Reiko: “he deferred her death to a time when he would no longer be there to verify it” (700). Most husbands would have chosen to kill their wife first. Shinji’s qualities shows that he stands strong and proud to be a soldier, “in military uniform, stood protectively beside his bride, his right hand resting upon his sword, his cap held at his side” (696).
The story is told in a non-chronological order, explaining to us in the beginning the reason of Shinji and Reiko’s death. Shinji tells his wife, “ I can’t do it, it’s impossible to do ...