The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea
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 Cover of the 1994 First Vintage International English Edition paperback |
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| Author | Yukio Mishima |
|---|---|
| Original title | 午後の曳航 (Gogo no Eiko - Eng trans. Afternoon of Glory) |
| Translator | John Nathan |
| Cover artist | Susan Mitchell |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Genre(s) | Philosophical, Psychological |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf (U.S.) |
| Released | Japanese Release 1963 English Release 1965 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 181 pp (1994 First Vintage International Edition, paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-679-75015-0 (1994 First Vintage International Edition, paperback) |
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (Japanese: 午後の曳航), a novel written by Yukio Mishima and published in 1963, chronicles the story of Ryuji, a sailor with vague notions of a special honor awaiting him at sea. He meets a woman who he falls deeply in love with, called Fusako and ultimately decides to marry her. Fusako's 13-year-old son is in a band of savage boys who reject the adult world as illusionary, hypocritical and sentimental. They train themselves in a belief they call "objectivity". Ultimately, Ryuji pays the ultimate price for associating with these boys.
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[edit] Plot summary
As Ryuji begins to draw close to Fusako, a woman of the shore, he is eventually torn away from the dreams he's pursued his entire life. Fusako's son, Noboru, who shares an especially close bond with his mother through a voyeuristic ritual, hates the idea of losing his mother to a man who has let his hope and freedom die. This anger and fear of loneliness translates into terrible, savage acts performed by Noboru and the gang in which he is a part. The novel makes a powerful statement of what it means to discard the motivations that drive you, the consequences of resigning yourself to another's passions and habits, and the lengths some will go to in order to maintain what they believe to be true.
[edit] Characters in "The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea"
[edit] Ryuji
Ryuji is a lonely sailor who dislikes small talk, and friendship. He is straightforward, works hard, and spends very little money. He feels that there is something destined for him in the world, a glory that only he should have. He feels that he is unique and has a destiny set in course for him. He dislikes land, and finds the sea to be his home.
[edit] Fusako Kuroda
The mother of Noboru, and lover of Ryuji. She is very good looking. She runs her first husband's import business, Rex, with the aid of an old manager.
[edit] Noboru Kuroda
The young thirteen year old son of Fusako, and her first husband. He is timid and enjoys learning about sailor adventures.
[edit] The Chief
A character who remains nameless throughout the novel, he is the commander of the cult-like "objectivity" group that Noboru is in. All other members fear his presence, and he is greatly respected by all other members of the group. He teaches his members everything he knows and commands his members to do activities to prove their willpower. The Chief's personal history is very mysterious, living in a large mansion all by himself with the aid of a servant.
[edit] Movie Adaptation
The novel was made into a film of the same title in 1976 starring Kris Kristofferson and Sarah Miles. The setting was changed from Japan to Dover to accommodate the film's location shoot.
