“Is suicide, like alchemy, a futile desire to transform lead, which is life, into gold, which is 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
「自殺とは錬金術のように、生という鉛から死という黄金を作り出そうとねがう徒なのぞみであろうか」
English
“Is suicide, like alchemy, a futile desire to transform lead, which is life, into gold, which is death?”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima uses the metaphor of alchemy to compare suicide to the ancient practice of attempting to transform base metals (such as lead) into gold. He suggests that suicide might be seen as a desperate, even futile, attempt to transcend or escape the pain and weight of life. Just as alchemists sought to turn the humble metal of lead into the precious metal of gold, the suicidal individual may be attempting to turn the suffering of life into the relief of death. However, by describing this effort as “futile” or “a desire”, Mishima implies that such a transformation is ultimately impossible—that death, like alchemy’s gold, cannot truly be created from life’s suffering. The quote reflects the complex relationship between life and death, and how some individuals may view suicide as a final solution to the impossibilities of existence.
Mishima’s comparison of suicide to alchemy also reflects his broader themes of transformation and rejection of modernity. Throughout his works, Mishima explored how individuals in modern society may attempt to escape the burdens of life, either through self-destruction, violence, or other means. The metaphor of alchemy suggests that suicide is seen not only as an escape from suffering, but as an attempt to transform one’s existential state—perhaps to turn the “base” life into something more precious or meaningful in death. This idea underscores Mishima’s existential concerns about identity, purpose, and the value of life in a world where modernity has led to a loss of spiritual depth and connection to tradition.
In a modern context, Mishima’s quote can be interpreted as a meditation on the human condition and the search for meaning in a world often perceived as empty or unfulfilling. Suicide remains a tragic response to existential despair, and Mishima’s words challenge us to reflect on how individuals in modern society may seek escape from the pressures of life. The alchemy of suicide is seen as an attempt to transcend life’s suffering, but it is ultimately a futile effort, as it denies the possibility of finding meaning or redemption within life itself. Mishima’s metaphor encourages a reflection on the transitory nature of existence and the complexities of human suffering, urging us to consider whether death is truly the solution to life’s struggles, or whether there is still hope for transformation and meaning in the living process.
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