“The murderer is behind the Creator. Their greatness is shared, and their joy and sorrow are shared.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「殺人者は造物主の裏。その偉大は共通、その歓喜と憂鬱は共通である」
English
“The murderer is behind the Creator. Their greatness is shared, and their joy and sorrow are shared.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima presents the murderer as being in a parallel position to the Creator, suggesting that both share a unique power and responsibility. By describing the murderer as being “behind the Creator,” Mishima implies that the act of taking life puts the murderer in a position of control, akin to that of the Creator, who also holds the power over life. This shared greatness refers to the intensity and impact of the act of creation and destruction. The quote also emphasizes that both the murderer and the Creator experience similar emotional states, including both joy and sorrow. These emotions, though typically associated with creation, are also present in the destruction of life. In this way, Mishima explores the complex and ambiguous nature of power and creation, blurring the line between divine authority and human violence.
Mishima’s reflection on the murderer and the Creator speaks to his ongoing exploration of the duality of existence—the tension between creation and destruction. Throughout his works, Mishima often examined the darker, more violent aspects of human nature and their relationship to the divine. In this quote, the murderer, as someone who has taken control over life, is placed in a similar position to the Creator, who has the authority to give life. Both are seen as being part of a larger, cosmic cycle, experiencing both joy (the sense of power or fulfillment) and sorrow (the burden of that power or the consequences of their actions). Mishima does not glorify the murderer, but rather points to the shared emotional experiences that come with wielding such absolute control.
In a modern context, this quote can be interpreted as a reflection on the moral complexity of power and responsibility. Today, we often separate creators (artists, leaders, innovators) from those who engage in destructive acts, such as criminals or murderers, viewing the latter as inherently evil and the former as inherently good. Mishima challenges this dichotomy by suggesting that the emotional and moral weight of both roles—creator and destroyer—can be surprisingly similar, involving both joy and sorrow in their execution. This challenges us to reflect on the ethical implications of the power we wield, whether in creative endeavors, leadership, or even in our everyday decisions, and to recognize the shared human experience in both creation and destruction.
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