“Women are the children born from the illicit union of dreams and reality.”
- 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
「女方こそ、夢と現実との不倫の交わりから生れた子なのである」
English
“Women are the children born from the illicit union of dreams and reality.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima presents a metaphorical view of women, suggesting that they are the result of an “illicit union” between dreams and reality. This statement reflects his belief that women embody a unique balance between the idealized and the real. The concept of “dreams” represents the idealized, romanticized vision of women—often seen as mysterious, untouched, or imperfectly perfect. On the other hand, “reality” refers to the more grounded, practical, and sometimes mundane aspects of life. Mishima implies that women exist at the intersection of these two worlds, both as dream-like figures and as real, complex individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Mishima’s statement can be interpreted as a reflection on the contradictory nature of femininity in his time. He often explored how society’s expectations of women were shaped by both idealized cultural roles (such as being nurturing, graceful, and passive) and the reality of women’s lives, which were often marked by complex struggles, identity formation, and social pressures. In Mishima’s view, women are not only products of societal constructs but also embody the tension between idealization and actuality, making them both mysterious and grounded.
In a modern context, this quote resonates with ongoing discussions about gender identity and societal roles. Women today often find themselves navigating between the idealized expectations placed upon them and their real-world experiences. Mishima’s metaphor speaks to the complexity of feminine identity, acknowledging that women’s existence is often shaped by the intersection of dream-like ideals and the practical realities of their daily lives. This dynamic continues to influence how women are perceived, how they navigate their personal aspirations, and how they confront the contradictions of society’s expectations. Mishima’s words remain a reminder of the tension between dreams and reality that still shapes women’s lives in contemporary contexts.
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