“A man’s will to become beautiful is, unlike a woman’s will to desire the same, always a ‘will to death.'”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
- He became a representative figure of postwar Japanese literature, and was highly acclaimed both at home and abroad. He pursued his own unique aesthetic with themes of beauty and death, and ultimately committed seppuku at a Self-Defense Forces garrison. His life, which combined literature with action, continues to have a strong influence today.
Japanese
「美しい者になろうという男の意志は、同じことをねがう女の意志とはちがって、必ず「死への意志」なのだ」
English
“A man’s will to become beautiful is, unlike a woman’s will to desire the same, always a ‘will to death.'”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima delves into the gendered difference in the pursuit of beauty and aesthetic ideals. He argues that for men, the desire to become beautiful is not merely a personal wish for attractiveness or social status, but rather is tied to a deeper existential drive, which he characterizes as a “will to death.” Mishima implies that for men, the pursuit of beauty is inherently linked to mortality—the desire to embody idealized forms or reach perfection often becomes a symbolic confrontation with death itself. This contrast with women’s desire for beauty suggests that men’s engagement with aesthetics is more closely tied to their consciousness of their own impermanence and the tragic nature of existence.
This idea reflects Mishima’s recurring exploration of death and beauty throughout his works. He often portrayed the idealization of beauty as something that is transitory and fragile, where beauty, particularly for men, is seen as an impossible ideal that can only be approached before the inevitable decay of the body. Mishima’s view on male beauty transcends superficiality, suggesting that it is a symbolic expression of the human condition—a longing to defy time, to achieve immortality through perfection, and to face death with dignity. This notion of beauty as tied to death reflects his philosophical and aesthetic beliefs, which often emphasized the transience of life and the irony of human attempts to achieve lasting glory.
In modern contexts, this quote can be seen as a reflection on societal pressures and the way beauty ideals are often understood in terms of impermanence and mortality, particularly in the age of social media, where physical appearance is frequently commodified. Mishima’s portrayal of male beauty as a “will to death” can be seen as a critique of how contemporary society values youth and aesthetic perfection in ways that underscore the fragility of the body and the relentless passage of time. Today, many men (and women) may seek beauty not only for social validation but also to preserve a sense of control over the inevitable decline of their physical form. Mishima’s quote offers a poignant reminder that the pursuit of aesthetic ideals, especially when driven by the desire for immortality or eternal perfection, is inherently bound to the recognition of mortality.
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