“A woman cannot become anything other than herself. Rather, she easily becomes ‘herself.'”
- 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
「女は自分以外のものにはなれないのである。というより実にお手軽に『自分自身』になりきるのだ」
English
“A woman cannot become anything other than herself. Rather, she easily becomes ‘herself.'”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima makes a statement about women’s identity, suggesting that women, unlike men who may struggle with self-definition or the pursuit of external goals, can effortlessly embody their true selves. Mishima’s view reflects his belief in the authenticity of womanhood, implying that women have an innate connection to their own identity that allows them to become who they are without the same internal conflict or complexity that men might face in their search for meaning or purpose. The phrase “easily become ‘herself'” suggests that womanhood is not something that requires struggle or transformation, but is naturally and immediately realized.
This view, however, is rooted in Mishima’s often idealized and traditional perceptions of gender roles. He frequently explored the idea of masculinity as something in conflict with societal expectations, where men were expected to transform, shape themselves, and often act against their instincts in order to achieve cultural ideals of strength, honor, and discipline. For Mishima, womanhood, in contrast, was more closely tied to natural expression and instinct, without the need for the same type of personal transformation or self-denial that he saw as integral to the masculine experience. This quote thus reflects Mishima’s belief that women, in their simplicity, could easily embody their roles, while men were caught in the complexities of becoming something they were not.
In a modern context, this quote can be interpreted as a commentary on how gender identity is often shaped by societal expectations and gender roles. Mishima’s idea that women are able to easily become themselves may seem simplistic or problematic today, given the ongoing discussions about gender fluidity and identity formation. Modern understandings of gender acknowledge that selfhood is a complex and evolving experience, not simply tied to biological sex or traditional gender roles. Mishima’s perspective, though reflective of his time, raises important questions about the naturalization of gender roles and whether women, like men, should have the freedom to define themselves beyond societal expectations, rather than easily conforming to predefined notions of identity.
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