Patriotism

A detailed Summary of Patriotism


In the days surrounding the Fourth of July in America we hear much talk about patriotism. We have parades, fireworks, flag waving, and speeches in praise of our country. We have a grand celebration of Independence Day and feelings of patriotism stir many a heart. Unfortunately, there is little understanding of what truly constitutes patriotism in not just America but in all countries. In the short story "Patriotism," Yukio Mishima forces the reader to seek out a correct definition of patriotism in relation to the protagonist, Shinji Takayama who has to decide between a clash of loyalties.

The date is February 28, 1936, three days after the beginning of the young officers' rebellion and assassination attempts to eliminate pro-Western and anti-military leaders in the Japanese government. Lieutenant Shinji is facing a dilemma: In the morning he is to le


Rieko, with the expectation of a solder's wife, does not flinch at the decision but announces simply, "I am ready. I ask permission to accompany you" (598) She chooses to follow him for they are very much in love as portrayed in the story by their intense lovemaking scene, and their bodies seem to be inseparable and fit perfectly together. Shinji loves and trust Reiko so much that he allows her to his witness his ritual suicide, but normally the husband would expect the wife to kill herself first for fear of her escaping. This proves their unconditional love for one another.

In today's Society, Americans do not tolerate suicide, and we believe that there is always an alternative way out. This is just an example of how diverse each culture is as some use suicide in rituals. In countries like these suicide is accepted and considered an expected event in certain si

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 584
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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