Fountains in the Rain Essay Example
AKIO’S JOURNEY
The short story of “Fountains in the Rain” written by Yukio Mishima is about a young boy who is trying to break up with his girlfriend. In the story the young couple finds them selves by a fountain, a key place of setting. Fountain shows a lot of importance in the story. ‘‘Mishima Yukio is arguably still the most famous writer modern Japan has produced’’ (Enotes 1). Akio, the main character, starts off the story carrying his girlfriend through the rain in a sack. Akio is the protagonist of the story finds him self in a bit of a predicament towards the end the story but the fountain fixes every thing. “He has contrived a plan much like an engineer might plot the dimensions of a proposed building” (Hart 1). There will be several things that are going to be brought in this paper. In “Fountain in the Rain”, Yukio Mishima uses Characterization to help define and illustrates the theme of manhood throughout the short story helping with the symbolism as well. The manhood in it, is a reoccurring theme through out. The way it will be shown is through the actions of the characters, and symbolism of the surroundings.
The first element explored is the theme of manhood the most important element during the whole story. Manhood is brought up because Akio is trying for his own passage into this important phase in his life. Akio feels if he breaks up with this girl
Alvey 2
he could enter that phase. Breaking up is the one way Akio completes his passage into manhood. “After months of faking a relationship with this woman, faking an emotional connection with her; Akio explains that this is reality” (Hart 2). This shows clearly how much he wanted to become a man. It also can be shown in the short story that he has become a man; at least he thinks he has. “And the tearful face of the woman now in front of him – this is reality! A genuine forsaken woman – forsaken by himself, Akio!”(Mishima 2). Akio is so happy that he has done but at what price. “There
The short story of “Fountains in the Rain” written by Yukio Mishima is about a young boy who is trying to break up with his girlfriend. In the story the young couple finds them selves by a fountain, a key place of setting. Fountain shows a lot of importance in the story. ‘‘Mishima Yukio is arguably still the most famous writer modern Japan has produced’’ (Enotes 1). Akio, the main character, starts off the story carrying his girlfriend through the rain in a sack. Akio is the protagonist of the story finds him self in a bit of a predicament towards the end the story but the fountain fixes every thing. “He has contrived a plan much like an engineer might plot the dimensions of a proposed building” (Hart 1). There will be several things that are going to be brought in this paper. In “Fountain in the Rain”, Yukio Mishima uses Characterization to help define and illustrates the theme of manhood throughout the short story helping with the symbolism as well. The manhood in it, is a reoccurring theme through out. The way it will be shown is through the actions of the characters, and symbolism of the surroundings.
The first element explored is the theme of manhood the most important element during the whole story. Manhood is brought up because Akio is trying for his own passage into this important phase in his life. Akio feels if he breaks up with this girl
Alvey 2
he could enter that phase. Breaking up is the one way Akio completes his passage into manhood. “After months of faking a relationship with this woman, faking an emotional connection with her; Akio explains that this is reality” (Hart 2). This shows clearly how much he wanted to become a man. It also can be shown in the short story that he has become a man; at least he thinks he has. “And the tearful face of the woman now in front of him – this is reality! A genuine forsaken woman – forsaken by himself, Akio!”(Mishima 2). Akio is so happy that he has done but at what price. “There