Aliah Farley

Ways of Knowing
11/10/15
1

In Patriotism ,by Yukio Mishima, a young couple, Reiko and Lieutenant Takeyama, take
their lives together. In this seemingly perfect couples tale of love, death and duty, many
underlying problems can be found. It appears that Reiko is so in love with her husband that she
cannot bear to live without him, so when it is his time to die she goes with him. But, upon further
inspection we can see the imbalance of love and commitment. The young couple has fallen out of
love with each other and in love with their duty and their image.
Reiko and the lieutenant started off their marriage already being seen as the perfect
union by many. This created a duty to keep up the image they created. They began to do
everything they could to be the perfect couple. They always agreed, always seemed happy: On
one or more occasion, returning home straight from maneuvers, and begrudging even the time to
took to remove his mud-splashed uniform, the lieutenant had pushed his wife to the floor almost
as soon as he had entered the house. Reiko, was equally ardent in her response . For a little more
or a little less than a month, from the first night of their marriage Reiko knew happiness, and the
lieutenant, seeing this, was happy too, (Bohner, 727). In the beginning, their relationship was
extremely physical. The lieutenant, before even taking the time to remove his dirty uniform, was
already trying to have sex with his wife. This happens within the first month of their marriage
on one or more occasion. It has become the first thing he does when he gets home, almost
ritualistic and scheduled. His wife, Reiko, was also equally ardent in her reaction. She was
exhibiting a lust for her husband, but the diction, equally ardent, seems very factual. Those
words lack a sense of desire that contradicts the seemingly passionate and spontaneous act of
sex.

Aliah Farley
Ways of Knowing
11/10/15
2

Reiko knew happiness, but only for a little more or a little less than a month after their
marriage. The lieutenants happiness became contingent on hers. As Reikos passion seems to
fade and sex seems to become a duty, the lieutenants passion /love also withers. Eventually, their
passionate love making isnt enough to create actual love in their relationship: Even in bed there
two were frighteningly and awesomely serious. In the very midst of wild and intoxicating
passion, their hearts were sober and serious, (Bohner, 727). Having sex, or being lustful, doesnt
capture their hearts desire because they are still sober and serious. Their passion begin to fade
away from each other, and they find happiness in other actions. But, through this disintegration
of their passion, they still try to seem as happy as they can because that is was perfect married
couples do. By day the lieutenant would think of his wife in the brief rest periods between
training; and all day long, at home, Reiko would recall the image of her husband. Even when
apart, however, they only had to look at the wedding photograph for their happiness to be once
more confirmed,(Bohner, 727). Instead of thinking back on happy memories, they have to refer
back to a photograph that symbolizes the perfect union to feel happiness. They have to remind
themselves that they are supposed to be as perfect and happy as they once seemed. They also
take the time to think of each other during specific times of the day. The husband would spend
his breaks away from his duties at work, to focus on his duty to his wife. Reiko would spend the
day doing her wifely duties and thinking about her husband, but even though it appears to be too
structured, all these things has a moral basis, and were in accordance with the Education
Rescripts injunction that husband and wife should be harmonious, (Bohner, 727). Reiko and
her husband are following the rules created to help couples achieve the standards for marriage.

Aliah Farley
Ways of Knowing
11/10/15
3

These rules are the basis for all of their actions. The husband and wife should be harmonious
rule, impacts several dimensions of their marriage, from Reikos equal response to her husband's
advances, to the couple simultaneously taking the time to think of one another. This leads them
to be constantly aligning their actions with the duty of a good husband and wife. They are
attempting to create the facade of perfection, when in reality, they are lacking love and passion
for one another. The love and passion that they would be put into their marriage is now being put
into creating their desired image of perfection. They begin to fall in love with their duties and
image, instead of each other.
Lieutenant Takeyama is a dutiful soldier who takes his responsibility and honor seriously.
His commitment to his country, his marriage, and his plan to commit suicide in honor of his
friends, shows his passion for duty. The lieutenant decides to take his life because his friends had
joined the rebellion army fighting against his brigade. He could not push himself to fight his
friends, therefore he decides to take the most noble way. He takes his own life, which says to
those who bear witness, I would rather die than fight against my friends. To the lieutenant, this
gives the most honor to the duty to his friends, and by committing suicide he hopes to gain the
respect and honor he thinks he deserves. After he makes his decision, he confronts his wife to tell
her his plan. She then says,... I ask permission to accompany you, the lieutenant felt these
words to be the final fruit of the education which he had himself given his wife, starting on the
first night of their marriage, and which had schooled her, when the moment came, to say what
had to be said without a shadow of a hesitation. This flattered the lieutenants opinion of himself
as a self-reliant man. He was not so romantic or conceited as to imagine that the words were

Aliah Farley
Ways of Knowing
11/10/15
4

spoken spontaneously, out of love for her husband, (Bohner, 730). The lieutenant puts himself
in a higher, more influential position over his wife. They are not equals. The lieutenant is her
instructor. He has been teaching her the duties of a good wife. He considers her unwavering
commitment to the suicide pact as the final test of her loyalty as a wife, or the final fruit of the
education he had given her. He also realizes that Reiko did not say those words out of love for
her husband. He knows they were said because it was Reikos duty to her husband and to the
sanctity of their marriage. The lieutenant takes his duty as Reikos guide with more honor than he
takes as her husband. He knew that she was not saying it out of love, and he credited her
commitment to his effort in teaching her. This adds to the satisfaction/pleasure he gets when he
completes a duty perfectly. He is more proud of his perfect teaching than the idea that Reiko
would agree out of love. Once Reiko decides that she would like to accompany her husband in
committing suicide, the lieutenant then proceeds to create arrangements by saying, ... But I
want you as a witness, first, for my own suicide. Agreed? When this was said a sudden release
of abundant happiness welled up in both their hearts. Reiko was deeply affected by the greatness
of her husbands trust in her. It was vital for the lieutenant, whatever else might happen, that
there should be no irregularity in his death. For that reason there had to be a witness, (Bohner,
730). The lieutenant asks Reiko to be there to witness his death because he wants to make sure
that there are no irregularities. He is ensuring that his suicide will be seen as perfectly
committed, and this adds to his desire to be seen as the honorable soldier who followed his duty
perfectly. It leads him to put more value and effort into creating an image of perfection. Reikos
death and the manner in which she chooses to do it in, does not affect him. He wants to make

Aliah Farley
Ways of Knowing
11/10/15
5

sure that his death is perfec. This lack of consideration and thought points to the fact that his love
is not directed towards his wife, but to the image his death creates.
After he discusses their plan, the lieutenant then begins to get ready for this ceremonious
act: Thrusting his face close to the dark, cracked, misted wall mirror, the lieutenant shaved
himself with great care. This would be his death face. There must be no unsightly blemishes,
(Bohner,731). The lieutenant takes great time and care into turning his appearance into what he
deems his death face, which is a face clear of any imperfections that will be suitable for all to
see. The lieutenant spending a considerable amount of time on making himself look his absolute
best shows that he takes great pride in how he looks. He is, again, creating an image. The
lieutenant during the entire decision to commit suicide is taking precautions in order to ensure
that it will be perfect. He asks Reiko to oversee and bear witness to his act, he creates his death
face that has been perfectly groomed, and he constructs an image of honor by crediting his
suicide to the duty to his friends. He gains his pleasure from the dramatic act of planning and
acting out his perfect suicide, not from his wife. As an abundant wealth of happiness swelled up
in both of their hearts, it was due to the act of planning his perfect suicide. The lieutenant was in
love with his duties and the image of perfection that came along with being honorable and
completing those duties.
Reiko takes her duty as being a soldiers wife seriously and gains her happiness through
being the perfect, dutiful wife. As the newly married couple enjoyed their honeymoon, the
lieutenant took the opportunity to inform Reiko of her new duty as a soldiers wife. He explained
that any day could be his last and that it is Reikos job to be able to mourn and recover quickly.

Aliah Farley
Ways of Knowing
11/10/15
6

As he explained Reiko, rose to her feet, pulled open a drawer of the cabinet, and took out what
was the most prized of her new possessions, the dagger he mother had given her. Returning to
her place, she laid the dagger without a word on the mat before her, just as her husband laid his
sword. A silent understanding was achieved at once, and the lieutenant never again sought to test
his wife's resolve. Reiko decides in this moment that she will take her new duty as seriously as
she can. She decides to use her most prized possession to commit her act of suicide. Using her
mothers dagger, adds to the importance and honor of her act. After her husband dies, Reiko
takes time to recheck everything making sure it is perfect. She comes across the bolted door and
wondering if she, should now leave the bolt drawn?If she were to lock the door, it could be that
the neighbors might not notice their suicide for several days. Reiko did not relish the thought of
their two corpses putrefying before their discovery, (Bohner, 740). Reikos act of leaving the
door open shows that she is thinking is of how they will be seen. She doesnt want her body to
decay by the time someone notices their death. She is helping her husband create the image of
perfection. Reikos actions throughout the story show that she is dedicated to her husband and to
creating the image they both want to have.

Aliah Farley
Ways of Knowing
11/10/15
7

Works Cited

Bohner, Charles H. Short Fiction: Classic and Contemporary. 4th ed. Upper Saddle
River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1999. Print.

Aliah Farley
Ways of Knowing
11/10/15
8

Maks Mini Mart

The sound of raindrops hitting the metal roof breaks the otherwise silent night. A group of
overtired college students huddle under the little bit of awning trying to get their damp smokes to
light. The large metal sign posted in front of the store creaks as the crisp wind blows by. The
college kids shuffle closer together. The smell of clean rain washes away the stench of the groups
smoke wafting up to the entrance of Maks.
Inside the store, the clerk rests his bony elbows on the dusty counter. The clock ticks on
behind him. The time reads 2:43. A lone customer scans the shelves of soda through the fogged
glass door as the fluorescent light above flickers.
Outside the group of students hurries into the store from the now faster dropping rain.
The welcoming bell rings drawing both the attention of the clerk and customer. As the group
enters and shakes off the rain, the clerk watches them disperse through the store. Soft murmurs

Aliah Farley
Ways of Knowing
11/10/15
9

fill the empty spaces between the barely stocked aisles. The other customer brings his soda
choice up to the counter. The 20 oz Coca-Cola bottle starts to condensate, leaving a wet trail as
the clerk scans the barcode. He hands the soda back to the man, explaining the cost would be
$1.29. The man shoves his damp hand into the ripped pocket of his rain jacket and plucks out
some change. He eyes the coins in his hand and gives the clerk the handful. Keep the change he
says as he walks out into the night. The students wander the store, as only one member grabs a
bag of Flamin Hot Cheetos. He tosses the bag onto the counter and fixes his hair underneath his
wet beanie. His friends gather around the door waiting for him to finish. The boy at the counter
looks up at the clock; 2:45.