NIHILISM+OR+ANARCHY

__**Nihilism and Anarchy**__

"There isn't any fear in existence itself, but living creates it." - The Chief saying how life creates the fear of having an existence without purpose.
 * Nihilist and Anarchist Quotes**

"Soon shirts would be flapping in the wind then he would be killing, breaking society's endless chain of loathsome taboos." - Mishima narrating through Noboru's thoughts. Tradition and laws of society are "chains" in which must be broken. Creating anarchy is the only way to set the boys free from the universe.

"Death had transformed the kitten into a perfect, autonomous world." - By killing the cat, Mishima states that it had become independently one with the universe. A trait that the existence of the cat was useless and by releasing it from existence the boys had freed the cat from their world. Which they consider a great deed.

"There's a huge seal called "impossibility" pasted all over this world. And don't ever forget that we're the only ones who can tear it off once and for all." - The Chief. He says that the world is limited with it's moral and social expectations of people, which is the seal. Therefore by way of anarchy, the seal can be removed by them, which is the Chief's opinion.

"A bunch of blind men tell us what to do,tear our unlimited ability to shreds." - as stated above, Anarchy is the way to remove the seal of impossibility. The Chief compares teachers and fathers, who tell us how to behave and how to act would eventually make them unable to break the chain of society.



Nihilism/Anarchy

THE CHIEF: Represents Nihilsm (“And that’s your hero? .. Don’t you realize there is no such thing as a hero in this world?” page 50)

Parents neglected him; he had no influences from the older generation with more experiences, etc. (the chief lost his direction)

Contradicts himself- believes in that society shouldn’t have any rules yet he creates a hierarchy between him and his gang. “The chief, number one, number two, Noboru (who was number three)...”

Childish; his physical appearances and his actions are in great contrast. An example is, that he has dimples, but at the same time talks about societies and fascists (the teachers and fathers).

Represents Alienation “A solitary boy, he had read at thirteen every book in the house and was always bored.”

Two conflicting sides of himself (adult; child) illustrates the conflicting sides of Mishima’s personality (Wants to be masculine yet he’s feminine, he wanted to live by Bushido however wanted to be famous in Europe)

“There were indications that this hollow house had nourished the chief’s ideas about the overwhelming emptiness of the world.” The house, therefore, represents the emptiness around him and the chief wants to project his ideas on the others so they are with him in this sort of thinking.

Personifies Japan after WW2/ Japan lost it’s direction.

Only women (such as Fusako and Yoriko) seem to have empty lives, which make this book not only a representation of nihilism, but also very patriarchic.

Mr. Ryan keeps mentioning the philosophical phrases like nihilism and existentialism, which we have looked at in philosophy. If it helps here is a quick video explaining what existentialism is:

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