Written in December 2011 Wrote this paper based on my personal interest in Mishima Yukio's works, namely his short story "Patriotism" which he later adapted for film that he wrote, directed, and starred in as the lead role and how both works express Mishima's personal ideals and beliefs.

Mishima Yukio’s “Patriotism”: Of Death, Purity, Honor, and Love

“Patriotism” is known to have been a story of personal significance to author Mishima Yukio, as he had expressed on multiple occasions how much of himself he had thrown into this particular story: “[Patriotism] embodies so many of my qualities as a writer, both the good and the bad.”  The fact that it is also the only work that Mishima handled personally when adapting it for film, as in directed, produced, wrote the screenplay, and starred in as lead actor, is testament to how important it was to him.  The film “Patriotism”, however, is not much of an adaptation in the conventional sense, and more of an expression of Mishima’s personal ideals and beliefs.  Especially in regards to Mishima’s views on the intimate relationship between death and “beauty”, which he considered synonymous with love, sex, and purity.  In both the story and the film, it is clear Mishima wanted to portray the act of seppuku as both “an act of beauty” and a purifying ritual.

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