“The reason why the emotion evoked by an artwork makes us so strongly aware of life may be because it is the emotion of 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
「芸術作品の感動がわれわれにあのように強く生を意識させるのは、それが死の感動だからではあるまいか」
English
“The reason why the emotion evoked by an artwork makes us so strongly aware of life may be because it is the emotion of death.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima suggests that the emotional impact of art often awakens our awareness of life, not in a simple or uplifting way, but through a confrontation with death. He implies that art, in its deepest form, evokes a profound recognition of life’s fragility and impermanence. This recognition may not necessarily be an explicit focus on death, but rather an indirect consequence of the way art engages with the themes of mortality—whether through suffering, loss, or the inevitable passage of time. By addressing death in symbolic or emotional terms, art reminds us of our own mortality, which, in turn, intensifies our awareness of life itself. The emotional resonance of art, therefore, may stem from its ability to bridge life and death, to make us conscious of how precious and fleeting life is, by confronting us with its inevitable end.
Mishima’s view of art as an engagement with death aligns with his broader themes of existential awareness and the struggle for meaning in life. He often wrote about characters who, in their confrontations with death, found a deeper understanding of life’s significance. By suggesting that art’s power comes from its ability to evoke death’s presence, Mishima is pointing to the cathartic or transformative effect that art can have, where the recognition of mortality sharpens our sense of vitality and existence. This confrontation with death through art does not lead to despair, but rather heightens our engagement with the world, making us more aware of the beauty, fragility, and impermanence of our lives.
In a modern context, Mishima’s words invite us to reflect on how art—whether in literature, visual arts, film, or music—often prompts us to engage with death as a means of understanding life. In many works of art, the shadow of mortality is present, either through explicit themes of death or through the emotional responses it evokes. By acknowledging death, art allows us to appreciate life in a more profound and urgent way, urging us to live more fully in the face of our inevitable end. Mishima’s quote encourages us to see that art’s emotional power often arises from its ability to bridge life and death, offering a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of these two aspects of the human experience.
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