“A writer continues to speak and tell their life story throughout their entire existence, in order to savor the silence of becoming their true self at the final moment.”
- 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
「作家は末期の瞬間に自己自身になりきった沈黙を味わうがために一生を語りつづけ喋りつづける」
English
“A writer continues to speak and tell their life story throughout their entire existence, in order to savor the silence of becoming their true self at the final moment.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima explores the idea that a writer’s life and creative work are driven by the search for self-realization. He suggests that the writer’s endless storytelling and speech throughout their life are an attempt to reach a point of authenticity—the moment when they can finally become their true self. The final moment, the end of life, is symbolized as the moment of silence when the writer has fully embodied their true identity. The process of speaking, writing, and reflecting on their life is a form of preparation for that ultimate silence—a silence that represents both completion and peace. Mishima’s words convey the idea that the act of creation and self-expression is not only a constant process but also a journey toward a deeper understanding of who the writer truly is.
Mishima’s perspective on the writer’s relationship with self-expression and identity underscores his broader themes of inner conflict, spiritual striving, and the search for meaning in life. He often examined how artists, particularly writers, are driven by the need to articulate their inner world—their thoughts, emotions, and desires—in order to understand and reconcile their true self. The act of writing or speaking is seen as an ongoing attempt to reach clarity or authenticity, a striving that continues throughout the writer’s life until they finally arrive at a place of silence—a state of self-acceptance and realization. The final silence represents the culmination of a life spent in pursuit of self-understanding, the end point of a journey of continuous self-expression.
In a modern context, Mishima’s quote reflects the enduring tension between the self and the world that many modern writers and artists continue to face. The act of writing or creating is often seen today as a way to navigate and define one’s identity in a complex, rapidly changing world. In this sense, Mishima’s idea of endless storytelling reflects the notion that the artist’s journey is not just about producing work for external audiences, but is also a search for the self—a quest to understand one’s own truth in a world that may not always make sense. His view on the final silence suggests that, like the writer, we too may spend our lives striving toward a greater understanding of who we are, hoping that in the end, we can achieve a state of peace and authenticity in our own lives.
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