Outsider,+isolation

In the novel, __The Sailor who fell from Grace with the Sea__, Noboru lacks parental care, which makes feel different and somewhat an outsider, where he joins the group of boys who are also seen to be diverse from the rest of the people with their philosophies. Noboru joining the group of boys and feeling unrelated makes him easily manipulated into his actions therefore sourcing his violence.

As a child Noboru lacks parental care due to his mom working and death of his father. He often feels different and an outsider than the rest and this is shown through the odd philosophy of the boys and their views towards human kind. “For a while they had roamed around the railroad siding behind the sheds on the wharf, and then held the usual meeting to discuss the uselessness of Mankind, the insignificance of Life.” This quote illustrates how his views towards human kind are very different from other people whereas others usually won’t criticize their own race. Noboru feelings of an outsider and differentiation, makes him more vulnerable and easier to be manipulated by other characters such as the chief. Noboru joining the group of boys who differentiate themselves from the rest so that he feels somewhat attached, but within the group itself, Noboru is sometimes seen as an outcast. This is supported through the quote on page 57, “At last the test of Noboru’s hard, cold heart! Just a minute before, he had taken a cold bath, but he was sweating heavily again.” This quote illustrates how Noboru is shown as an outsider within the group. The fact that Noboru must prove himself worthy enough to be in this group shows that the rest of the members see him as an outcast in the group illustrated by Chief saying the killing of the cat is a “test of Noboru’s hard, cold heart.” Having a test of “hard, cold heart” also illustrates how Noboru is easily manipulated by the chief, therefore sourcing his violence such as killing of the cat.

To further support Noboru’s differentiation within the group and his lack of parental care, is through the boys’ conversation of fathers. “There are lots of things worse than that, only you don’t know about them. You’re the fortunate ones. When your father died your case became special.” (p138) In the group, Noboru is the only boy who doesn’t have a father making him less experienced and easier to be manipulated. In this conversation the boys influenced Noboru to stereotype that all fathers are bad by saying Noboru is one of the “fortunate ones” and he’s special because he doesn’t have a father thus illustrating his differentiation and being an outsider. It also shows how he lacks parental care thus feelings of cut off. Because Noboru lacks in paternal care, the stereotype he had of fathers made him more vulnerable to the manipulation of the death of Ryuji.

The chief is very manipulative and is able to influence Noboru to kill Ryuji by teaching Noboru about his philosophies of the world and mankind. And Because Noboru often feels cut off and he tries to fit in, making it easier for the chief to manipulate him to feel that by being with the chief he is able to achieve anything. This is shown by the quote after the killing of the cat on page 61 “I can do anything, no matter how awful.” Thus by the chief saying the killing of Ryuji will make Ryuji a hero again, Noboru is led to believe that it certainly will because Noboru’s already had been influenced to think that way. “If we don’t get this empty world will go pale and shrivel up. We must drain that sail’s fresh lifeblood and transfuse it to the dying universe, the dying sky, the dying forest and the drawn dying land.” This quote is what the chief described the killing of Ryuji is. He describes that if they don’t kill Ryuji “the empty world will go pale and shrivel up.” It is obvious that Ryuji will not cause “the empty world to go pale and shrivel up” but because the chief has already manipulated Noboru’s emotions, Noboru agrees and leading him to the killing of Ryuji.

In conclusion, Noboru’s feeling of difference and trying to fit into the group makes him more vulnerable and easily manipulated therefore sourcing his violence. This is shown through the group of boys and the killing of Ryuji and the cat. Word Count: 747 Mishima, Yukio. __The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea__. Trans. John Nathan. New York: Vintage International, 1994.