“If I had died during the war, I could have died within the entirely unconscious, self-sufficient eros.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「戦争中に死んでいれば、私は全く無意識の、自足的なエロスの内に死ぬことができたのだ。」
English
“If I had died during the war, I could have died within the entirely unconscious, self-sufficient eros.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima reflects on the possibility that death during the war would have allowed him to experience a death that was free from the complexities of conscious thought or societal pressures. He envisions this death as one that would have been immersed in a pure, self-contained form of eros—a force of passion, desire, or life energy that exists outside of the usual constructs of reason and self-awareness. The idea of being unconscious in this death suggests a kind of liberation from the burdens of modern life, allowing for an experience of death that is both uncomplicated and uncontaminated by external influences. In this state, eros—traditionally associated with sexual desire, but also representing a broader life force or creative energy—becomes a sustaining and all-encompassing presence, providing a meaningful and autonomous conclusion to his life.
Mishima’s contemplation of this form of death highlights his recurring theme of the relationship between life, death, and eros. Throughout his works, Mishima often explored the notion of death as not simply an end, but a fulfillment or culmination of the human experience. He contrasts this ideal of death in the unconscious with the awareness and modernity of life, where people often grapple with existential doubts and discontent. The death he imagines, free from consciousness, represents an escape from the confusion and complexity of life, where eros and death are intertwined in a form that is both pure and whole.
In a modern context, Mishima’s quote touches on contemporary anxieties about meaning and identity in a world often marked by disillusionment and alienation. His vision of death as an unconscious, self-sufficient eros challenges conventional views of death as something to be feared or resisted. It suggests that, for some, death can be seen as a return to a state of pure energy and connection, untainted by the complexities and conflicts of modern existence. Mishima’s reflection prompts us to consider the way in which we approach life and death, particularly how we engage with the passions and forces that drive us, and whether a more direct or unconscious engagement with eros could offer a sense of resolution or peace that we often seek in our own lives.
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