Mishima was obsessed for his entire life (or almost) by the re-gaining the values (ideologies) of a valuable life that has to be lived under the tension of art reinforced by the erotism of death.
The vision of his contemporary Japan was devastating to him. A land deserted by real values, whose DEATH undoubtedly was the highest (and probably unique) value (ideology) for Male-kind.
an age in which everything is based on the premise that it is best to live as long as possible. The average life span has become the longest in history, and a monotonous plan for humanity unfolds before us.
He cannot shun art as he cannot shun death since the life of an artist is subdued to death.
The occupation of the Samurai is death...death is the Samurai’s supreme motivation, and if a Samurai should fear or shun death, in that instant he would cease to be a Samurai.
Life doesn't allow to be caught off-guard. It doesn't allow laxity, because this would mean to resign his claim on the Perpetual Threat of Death, which offers to the Samurai/writer (Mishima) to defend his honour and his morale by constant anticipation. This will enable the Samurai/writer to be towards a-not-an-introspective-morality but towards a morality concentrating on external reflection.
This is the male samurai writer completely dismantled of laxity and of any feminisation, which is the antithesis of the samurai writer.
For these many reasons the samurai writer cannot be in peace with himself but he is devoted to a never-ceasing fight in name of superior value, that is always aimed beyond the current situation:
One who in wartime employs rough and manly words appropriate to an age of war and in time of peace words appropriate to peacetime is not a Samurai. It is essential for a Samurai to maintain logical consistency, and if one must show valour in one’s action during times of chaos, then one must demonstrate equal valour in words during a peaceful age.
The vision of his contemporary Japan was devastating to him. A land deserted by real values, whose DEATH undoubtedly was the highest (and probably unique) value (ideology) for Male-kind.
an age in which everything is based on the premise that it is best to live as long as possible. The average life span has become the longest in history, and a monotonous plan for humanity unfolds before us.
He cannot shun art as he cannot shun death since the life of an artist is subdued to death.
The occupation of the Samurai is death...death is the Samurai’s supreme motivation, and if a Samurai should fear or shun death, in that instant he would cease to be a Samurai.
Life doesn't allow to be caught off-guard. It doesn't allow laxity, because this would mean to resign his claim on the Perpetual Threat of Death, which offers to the Samurai/writer (Mishima) to defend his honour and his morale by constant anticipation. This will enable the Samurai/writer to be towards a-not-an-introspective-morality but towards a morality concentrating on external reflection.
This is the male samurai writer completely dismantled of laxity and of any feminisation, which is the antithesis of the samurai writer.
For these many reasons the samurai writer cannot be in peace with himself but he is devoted to a never-ceasing fight in name of superior value, that is always aimed beyond the current situation:
One who in wartime employs rough and manly words appropriate to an age of war and in time of peace words appropriate to peacetime is not a Samurai. It is essential for a Samurai to maintain logical consistency, and if one must show valour in one’s action during times of chaos, then one must demonstrate equal valour in words during a peaceful age.
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