“The reason disorder is loved by literature is because literature itself is the embodiment of order.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「無秩序が文学に愛されるのは、文学そのものが秩序の化身だからだ。」
English
“The reason disorder is loved by literature is because literature itself is the embodiment of order.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima explores the relationship between literature and order. He suggests that literature, at its core, is a manifestation of order, as it seeks to impose structure and meaning on the chaos of life and human experience. However, disorder—often associated with chaos, rebellion, or anarchy—becomes a vital element in literature precisely because it highlights the tension between order and chaos. Literature, in this sense, reflects the balance or struggle between the two forces. By engaging with disorder, literature reveals its true essence: it is not a passive reflection of reality, but an active process of creating meaning and structure from disorder.
Mishima’s statement speaks to the dynamic tension that exists within literary works. While literature may reflect the world’s disorder and conflicts, it simultaneously strives to bring coherence and order to these experiences. Through the act of storytelling, writers impose a kind of structure on the events, emotions, and thoughts they present, even when those elements are chaotic or fragmented. In this way, literature’s engagement with disorder is essential for its ability to demonstrate its inherent capacity for order. Disorder in literature serves to underscore the power and importance of order, as it is only through the lens of structured narrative that the chaos can be understood or explored meaningfully.
In a modern context, this quote reflects the contradictory nature of art and expression, where even in the most disordered or avant-garde works, there is often a sense of underlying structure or purpose. Mishima challenges us to see that literature, or any form of art, does not simply reflect life but actively engages with it, imposing order on what might otherwise seem chaotic. By embracing disorder, literature enhances its ability to present complex human experiences, showing that even in the most turbulent moments, there is an inherent order waiting to be uncovered.
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