Spring Snow discussion

This novel was a very unique read for me. It was difficult because of the time it was written, as well as being translated from Japanese. It was also difficult to fully understand the culture while reading, especially in a book taking place so long ago. But even though it was challenging, it still taught me a lot about writing. The first thing it taught me was to keep a connection with nature and the world around the characters. In this book Mishima surrounds us in the feeling of springtime in old Japan. This isn’t a setting I’m am used to reading and it made me feel more immersed in the world as well as knowing more about the characters as their emotions were connected to the world. The next thing I learned was to invest into the characters emotions. In Spring Snow, I was fully invested in the emotions of Kiyoaki. And, they change throughout the story. He’s struggling with his feelings about a girl, his family, and the changing Japan. This makes it so we don’t only care about how the plot will turn out, but also how the character will end up feeling. The last thing that it taught me was how to tie the story with philosophical meanings and views. This is prevalent through the story with things like “the sea of life” and “the theory of unity and self-awareness.” These things are said in the book but still remain as one of the underlying themes of the piece.