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Unconditional Love
In the short story "Patriotism," the Japanese writer Yukio Mishima dramatizes the links between patriotism and love. For Mishimas two main characters, love is absolute. ... The principal character, Army Lieutenant Shinji Takeyama, and his wife, Reiko, illustrate this love. ... Without question he knows that there is no honorable alternative other than to take his own life out of respect for his friends and for the love of his country. Shinjis wife knows that the only honorable thing she can do in response to her husbands suicide is to take her own life as an act of loyalty to and love for him. In this story, Mishima defines patriotism--sincere patriotism, not the superficial, flag-waving kind--as unconditional by equating Shinjis patriotic love for this country with the sexual love that he and Reiko share. ... Just as Shinji entered the Army with the understanding that he may have to give his life out of love for his country, Reiko has entered her marriage with the understanding that she may have to give her life out of love for her husband.
Approximate Word count = 823
Approximate Pages = 3.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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