Ryuji


 * Small Collection of quotes - Glory vs Woman**

//By: Marissa, Shurabhi, Tanya, and Katrina//

Page 11
 * 1. __List his key appearances ( page numbers and brief context )__**
 * No more than 5ft 7
 * Young ,muscley ,solid looking body
 * Broad shoulders, square
 * Hairy chest
 * Thick hair below the belly
 * Dangerous ,glittering gaze
 * Artery bulging in his neck

- his description-
 * 2.**

- p11- “his sunburned face was featureless except for the eyes that glittered in the lamp light” denotations to describe his appearance. - “ he was certainly no more than five feet seven, probably a little less. Not such a big man”-p11 - “although he must have been the same age as noboru’s mother, his body looked younger and more solid than any other landman’s”. p11 - “his broad shoulders were square, as the beams in a temple roof.. chest strained against a thick mat of hair knotted muscle like twists of sisal hemp bulged..” - His eye's are highlighted. For example, when Fusako first men Ryuji, she notices his eyes. Another example could be when Noboru also highlights Ryuji's eyes while Fusako and him are having their first intimate experience. - Key appearances - P11 – P16- Ryuji sleeps with Fusako - P38- thinks to himself “how could I have talked so godam badly” – shows has an attraction to fusako. P38 talks about the possibility of a woman. - P63- Interaction between norboru and Ryuji. – instant dislike - P66 – Noboru asks Ruiji a lot of Q’s.. - P81 – Ryuiji arrives – Noboru again feels hatred – - P83 – Fusako, and Ryuji spend the night in a motel - P92 – Ryuiji sets sail - P102 – Ryuji gives a gift to Norboru – gives the message that he;s trying - P104 – abruptly, Noboru asks “ when are you next sailing”? - P112- he proposes to Fusako - P161 – the chief and Ryuji - P171 – 180 – Ryuji tells his story to the boys – unaware. - P180 – 181 – “want some tea”? the boys’ offer Ryuji some bitter tea,,

3. Diagram

4. __**To explain how your character is a product of Japanese history and culture...and maybe Mishima himself (make notes)**__ - Japanese are often associated with Glory and honour, samurai, and the kamikaze squad during the second world war - Ryuji is an example of a product of Japanese history and culture, Ryuji loves being a sailor and thinks that it’s a kind of glory and honour to be a sailor - Ryuji is also a product of Mishima, - Mishima is a very traditional Japanese, he performed seppuku ritual suicide in front of the crowd, which is a traditional way of suiciding for a disgraced samurai - Mishima uses the character Ryuji to describe himself, they have similar backgrounds and Mishima told how he thinks about different things through the character

5. __**Asses and explains his significance in and cotribution to the novel**__ Ryuji acts as a father figure to Noboru. He was a hero to Noboru and his friends and first however this turned to hatred. Noboru was reverential towards him. He was someone that Noboru could go to. However later on he comes between Noboru and his mother and now Fusako does not pay much attention to her son which makes Noboru not like him .He is torn between love and the sea. His sailor life has so many past memories and stories to be told but he is in love. He believes there is like a destiny set for only him and a glory that he needs to find, he hates land and thinks the sea is his home but he loves Fusako so he can’t leave.


 * 6.** __**Make a judgement on the character,based on close textual knowledge.Create a bank of words and phrases that you would use to describe him**__
 * Assiduous- saves his money
 * Arrogant
 * Proud
 * Dreamer
 * Slightly arrogant-he thinks glory is only for him
 * Honoured
 * In love with the sea
 * Hardworking-saves up his money
 * Brave
 * Slightly cocky
 * Muscly
 * Passionate
 * Broad shoulders
 * Narrow minded
 * Tradition thoughts about his dreams
 * Strong
 * Lonely-all his friends have families-the sea is his only company on board
 * Becomes slightly resentful
 * Honourable-‘he hadn’t been able to explain his ideas of glory and death
 * Father figure
 * Physically fit and attractive- ‘his body looked younger and more solid than any landsman’
 * Individual within society
 * Lonely sailor who dislikes small-talk
 * Straightforward
 * Diligent
 * Feels there is something destined for him (a glory that belongs to him only)
 * Feels unique and has a destiny set in course for him
 * A man of the sea; Finds the sea to be his home - this mirrors Noboru's dreams/aspirations, which is why N likes/looks up to R so much (at the beginning, at least)
 * Experiences internal conflict – evident at the end part when he’s recounting his past adventures to Noboru’s friends… he realizes what he’s had to give up for “the woman”… resentful?
 * Internal conflict parts are highlighted by interior monologs, shown through italicized font.
 * Tries to be a father figure - ironic because the gang of savage boys (incl. Noboru) has immensely cynical views on fatherhood... so here Ryuji is trying to win their love/respect over by trying to be all fatherly, but they hate the idea of fathers
 * Goes from '"Hero" to zero'! - Starts off with Noboru pretty much worshipping to him writing the "charges against" Ryuji (because in the eyes of N and the gang, Ryuji has become somewhat of a criminal)

RYUJI- • Ryuji believes that he is special and he has a destiny to fulfill, and that he was meant for great things and that glory awaits him. This glory can be seen through the many similes and metaphors throughout the novel. • He meets Fusako and falls in love with her and decides to marry her • As he becomes closer to Fusako, he is drawn away from the sea and more towards the shore and land, therefore torn away from the sea and his dreams he’s wanted his whole life. Domesticity vs. Glory. Mishima can be seen through this, we can assume that he also wanted glory but thought that in this world, it is difficult to attain it. • Mishima conveys the message that there is no space in this world for the samurai and their glorious lives. • At first, Noboru admires Ryuji because he is a sailor, something that Noboru aspires to be one day. He begins to see Ryuji as a paternal figure He also admires Ryuji’s masculinity, physically and how strong a man he is but this respect declines when he realizes that inside, Ryuji is a very soft and sensitive man. • Personality wise, Ryuji is a lonely sailor who does not have too many relationships with other people; he is somewhat distant to the people who surround him. He works hard but does not like to spend a lot of money. He also dislikes land and regards the sea as his home. • Ryuji represents the ideal man. He is quite an ambiguous character but a believable one