The Chrysanthemum Versus the Sword in Suicide: Yasunari Kawabata and Yukio Mishima

The suicide of Yasunari Kawabata & Yukio Mishima symbolize 2 sides of Japanese character: the chrysanthemum & the sword. The crysanthemum represents the pleasure the Japanese derive from simple & beautiful objects in nature & art; the sword represents their passion for militarism. The author suggests the difference between the two suggest different causes of suicide: agression for Mishima & passivety, resignation and/or despair for Kawabata. (NBB)