The Use of Irony and Contrast in Yukio Mishima’s Confessions of a Mask and After the Banquet: A Study of Translated Literature
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2014-01-15
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University of Hawaii at Manoa
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A consistent use of the techniques of irony and contrast exists in Yukio Mishima's Confessions of a Mask and After the Banquet. The examination of these techniques reveals the theme of each novel. This paper is based upon the English translations of Mishima's novels. There is an increasing need for original, perhaps even basic, English criticism of translated literature. Translated literature is not identical to the original--the translator may misinterpret the author’s intent, and cultural nuances are often lost or altered when a language is translated (I have attempted to identify these problems in an Appendix, which compares a chapter in one of the translations to the original Japanese). Thus knowledgeable commentary by someone familiar with both languages will be useful to those who wish to study work in translation. Very little knowledgeable comment is currently available in English. I believe that this analysis is a step toward such criticism. My knowledge of Japanese language and culture is, however, somewhat limited. I have been unable to read the critical materials existent in Japanese and have been forced to rely almost completely upon the translations as source material. I believe my experience with Japanese--the equivalent of four years of language study, independent reading in the language, having visited Japan for a number of months and the acquaintance of a number of Japanese citizens--permits a certain degree of critical accuracy, but the paper necessarily lacks the benefit of thorough research. Although the personality of Mishima is not the subject of this thesis, I have found it necessary to mention relationships between Mishima's life and writing which I consider artistically significant. Understanding Mishima the man is vital in understanding his art. Mishima is an important writer. I intend to demonstrate important ways in which his work can be ordered and understood.
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ii, 47 pages
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