'The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea' was written in 1963 by Japanese author Yukio Mishima, known as one of the most controversial characters until famous writers of Japan to date. It could be argued that the novel has many connections to Japanese history, alluding to various aspects of Japan's surrender during World War II. Translated by John Nathan, the novel is set in post-World War II Yokohama, Japan, and is based on a boy named Noboru. Noboru is a member of a gang of wild teenagers who reject social norms, discuss the futility of humanity and the meaninglessness of life, and show impartiality towards emotions and other typical conventions. When Noboru's widowed mother, Fusako, meets and eventually falls in love with a sailor named Ryuji, Noboru and his gang initially idolize him for his fight for glory. However, this idolatry soon turns into disapproval due to the idea of ​​Ryuji deciding to leave the sea, abandoning his "quest for glory" for love, revealing an alternative, tender and romantic side. The novel is heavily focused on two main events: the killing of the kitten and the death of Ryuji, which arise from the characterization of the gang, expressing impartiality and highlighting many unexpected traits of these young boys, perhaps resulting from their naivety. Through the gang's depiction, Mishima suggests that adolescence is marked by occasional immorality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Mishima uses the lens and perspective of Noboru, one of the gang members, to emphasize the influence the young leader has on the gang, commenting on the malleable nature of teenagers, easily manipulated by peer pressure. The way Noboru and the rest of the gang members interact with the leader highlights how they look up to him, always conforming to his opinions and willing to exempt themselves from limiting themselves to social norms. There are many cases where this manipulation and peer pressure was evident. The first instance dates back to the beginning of the novel, when the gang was talking about Ryuji, and the leader questions Noboru's favorable opinion towards the sailor. He says, "And that's your hero?" Mishima's use of a rhetorical question expresses the power of the leader's opinions, underlining their importance. It also suggests the dismay and disappointment he feels towards Noboru, idolizing someone who doesn't deserve it. In the same conversation we see the boss's persuasiveness and manipulation. “He's probably after your old lady's money; that will be the punchline. First he's going to suck everything she's got and then, bang, bam, see you around, lady, that'll be the punchline. In this quote, the chief opposes Noboru's opinion towards Ruiji. The use of repetition emphasizes the phrase "and that will be the punchline", suggesting that it is a joke. However, the onomatopoeia, rhyme and bluntness with the words “bang, bam, see you around, ma'am” show the determined behavior of the boss, with an aggressive tone. This also contains a subtle humorous connotation, alluding to youth and childishness. The second instance where Noboru and the gang are influenced by the boss was before Noboru carried out his horrific killing of the kitten, "he (Noboru) controlled himself out of pity", suggesting the conflict/internal struggle that Noboru faced and pondering whether or not to feel sorry for the kitten. Regardless of Noboru's contemplation; however, in the end it was Noboru who remembered the chief's opinions wholed Noboru to slaughter the kitten, recalling that "the chief insisted that acts like this would be needed to fill the great voids of the world." Mishima uses a simile to compare Noboru's dilemma to "a lighted window seen from an express train, flashing for an instant in the distance and then disappearing." At this moment, the express train, known for its speed, is symbolic for Noboruemotions: initially flickering, contemplated from both sides, and finally gradually disappearing, barely visible. This emphasizes the absolute distance between Noboru and his emotions, due to the influences of the boss. This emotional detachment is something the gang desires and the leader firmly believes in, showing strength rather than vulnerability. So, during the murder, Noboru was constantly thinking about the leader's point of view, fixated on the idea that the leader was nothing but righteous. The last instance where peer pressure is evident in the novel was in the final scene of the novel when the gang poisoned Ryuji. “Here's your tea,” Noboru said to Ryuji, “pushing a dark brown plastic cup close to Ryuji's cheek. Absently, Ryuji took it. He noticed that Noboru's hand was shaking slightly." The use of dark diction, evident through the dark, murky, mud-like colors, in describing the cup, foreshadows events opposite to Noboru's beliefs, as if Noboru's emotions are treading unfamiliar territory. Furthermore, the fact that Noboru was shaking slightly suggests that Noboru was uncomfortable with what he was doing, most likely being told to do it by the boss, manipulated and heavily influenced, describing the casual and unprincipled nature of adolescence. Through characterizing the gang's opinions and reasoning about killing the kitten, Mishima is able to portray the completely irrational and exploitative actions of the teenagers for personal gain. Due to their somewhat narrow vision and nihilistic views towards the existence of humanity, they committed inhumane acts which involved killing a kitten and were the reason for Ryuji's death, based on delusional reasoning and irrational. This was evident in the scene where the gang captured and gruesomely killed a kitten to practice impartiality and objectivity. This shows that these teenagers are willing to exploit an animal for exercise. The gang believes that emotion signifies vulnerability, while a lack of emotion suggests power. So by killing the kitten, the gang is able to practice invulnerability. The use of abrupt word choice when Noboru "swung the kitten high above his head and slammed it against the trunk" shows the gruesome nature in which the kitten was killed, highlighting the inhumane actions to which the gang he participated to be invulnerable. Furthermore, the outcome of their actions is seen through vibrant and energetic diction, in the instant following the kitten's death. The other five boys in the group watched with "glittering eyes" and Noboru felt "a shining power flow through him to his fingertips." This light and electricity are a symbol of energy, Noboru is ecstatic, full of positivity as if he has conquered a mission. This is also shown through the simile of Noboru feeling "like a giant of a man", placing further emphasis on the power Noboru felt, as if he was above and better than everyone. This immensely cruel and immoral act empowered Noboru, who is incredibly unsympathetic towards the kitten and not limited by the social norms that people abide by, showing the enormous lengths that teenagers go to for personal gain. Through Ryuji's character development.