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The Sound Of Waves By Yukio Mishima

447 Words2 Pages

Nature is defined as the phenomenon of the physical world including the landscape and other features and products of the Earth. In “The Sound of Waves” by Yukio Mishima, nature is portrayed as a benevolent force on the island of Uta-Jima. It is constantly revealing itself in the crashing of the waves, the heavy seas or the tumultuous skies. Nature, its power and its importance are on full display in this novel. In “The Sound of Waves”, Mishima establishes the potency of nature by displaying the inherent compact between the inhabitants of the island of Uta-Jima and its natural elements. Nature is seen to have an intense role in the lives of the island dwellers. Because of their reliance on nature in many aspects of life, nature's role in …show more content…

The sea, in particular, is seen to be an important natural element in their lives. On the island, a majority of men and women of a variety of ages have sea related occupations. Most men were fisherman and many women were pearl divers. Because of this, the islanders not only relied on the sea but came to trust this natural entity. Throughout the novel, Shinji speaks of the sea and his admiration and reverence for it. As Shinji notes, “the sea, it only brings the good and right things that the island needs … and keeps the good and right things we already have here” (Mishima 53). The sea isn’t merely a beautiful natural force that surrounds the island it is life giving in a myriad of ways. It provides jobs as well as protection and security. Shinji firmly believes the sea is a force of good and explains that there are no cruel people on the island because the sea takes care of the islands inhabitants and preserves their virtue and morality. Because the island provides what they deem as the necessities of life, the islanders have put their trust in the unseen force. This highlights the inherent compact made between nature and the island dwellers. Nature informs all aspects of life on Uta-Jima and provides a daily living for nearly all of its inhabitants. As Chiyoko observes, the people of the island "enthusiastically entered into an alliance with nature and gave it their full support"

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