In Yukio Mishima’s novel The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, Mishima’s political ideologies leak through the text. Mishima’s political stance is centered around traditional Japanese ideologies of keeping ports closed to stop westernization while keeping production and trade within Japan, and the overall traditional status of women. His opinion on the western world and women seem to be centered around one character, Fusako. Fusako owns an upscale western shop, her house is a collection of the western world, and her behavior lacks traditional Japanese women values. The mentioning’s of westernization are always centered around Fusako; therefore, she is a symbol for westernization.
One of the first introductions to the character Fusako in the novel The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea is when Fusako is in her shop that happens to be filled with western apparel. This is the start of the correlation between Fusako and westernization. Just like westernization, she brings in western goods to a foreign area in hopes for it to prosper and make a profit. Fusako briefly mentions never actually being able to travel to the countries of which she purchases from (Mishima 25), which demonstrates an understanding that Mishima believes that the foreign …show more content…
Nevertheless, Fusako, a feeble female, seems to be the only character that embodies what westernization is, the progression and utilization of western advances. Other than the utilization of western culture and items within her home and business, Fusako chooses to dress in western wear, eat at French restaurants and behave as if she lived in Europe. Even with Fusako’s successful western lifestyle, it is not enough and she still yearns for a romantic relationship with Ryuji, proving that women always need a man. With this evident, Fusako is the symbol of westernization that Mishima
One of the first introductions to the character Fusako in the novel The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea is when Fusako is in her shop that happens to be filled with western apparel. This is the start of the correlation between Fusako and westernization. Just like westernization, she brings in western goods to a foreign area in hopes for it to prosper and make a profit. Fusako briefly mentions never actually being able to travel to the countries of which she purchases from (Mishima 25), which demonstrates an understanding that Mishima believes that the foreign …show more content…
Nevertheless, Fusako, a feeble female, seems to be the only character that embodies what westernization is, the progression and utilization of western advances. Other than the utilization of western culture and items within her home and business, Fusako chooses to dress in western wear, eat at French restaurants and behave as if she lived in Europe. Even with Fusako’s successful western lifestyle, it is not enough and she still yearns for a romantic relationship with Ryuji, proving that women always need a man. With this evident, Fusako is the symbol of westernization that Mishima