Kamikaze Flashcards
“Her father embarked…”
“at sunrise”
Nameless pilot/ third person narration distances the pilot from his family and even his own narrative. The word ‘embarked’ conveys new beginnings, perhaps a new life for the pilot not only hinting at his youth but also the severe shift in this new chapter of his life - Japan is known as the land of the rising sun proving that it’s the culture, embedded in the land itself, offering him a choice - death or death. Sets undertones of being conflicted with an internal power such as your identity and culture rather than at conflict with an external power, like in war.
“a ______ head full of….
powerful incantations”
Not only does this foreshadow the conviction of the pilot, with the imagery of the shaven head, but could also be metaphorical for the stripping of his identity, and objectification.
The powerful incantations allude to the spell-binding patriotism and propaganda that the pilot is faced with as even his will to live has been suppressed at this point.
“enough ______ for a one-way…
journey into history”
1. “fuel” is symbolic for the propaganda and forced national, cultural values used to indoctrinate these pawns of society, enough to drive them to die for their country. Moreover, ‘fuel’ forms imagery of ‘fuelling a fire’ which could be metaphorical for the way in which powers, in this case of Japan, sacrifice and set fire to these people’s lives, and as fire spreads, we can picture the way that these cultural ideals, and patriotism take over society and identity.
2. Irony of ‘one -way journey into history’: the pilots seek death to immortalise themselves by history in respect.
“strung out like _____ on a green-blue…
translucent sea”
Here, Garland employs juxtaposing imagery of ‘bunting’ supposedly representing the celebration of the honour he will bring to his country, and the beauty of the ‘sea’ and life which he doesn’t want to be denied, nor deny those he will kill, to show the life-determining choice the pilot has to make. The placed immediately next to each other, to show how quickly everything can change for him.
The child-like innocence of the imagery of ‘bunting’ mocks the undermining nature of the situation, and the way in which powers have simplified the value of human lives, greeting a Kamikaze’s death with the same manner as a child’s birthday party. This condemnation of how cruel conflict can be is contrasted with the purity and beauty of nature, detached from the corruption of humans and their destruction. The clarity of the sea could mirror the certainty in change of heart the pilot has had, as well as the sudden transparency and completion he feels ‘half-way there’.
Moments before his supposed death, the pilot completely comprehends the beauty of life, showcasing the idea that humans are ungrateful and don’t appreciate life, until it’s about to be taken from them. This also portrays the devaluation of human lives in the eyes of powers too.
“like a huge…”
flag”
The pilot catches sight of the fish in the water, swimming in swathes like a ‘huge flag’. This could be alluding to the nationalist essence of society and the value humans place on ‘flags’ and ‘patriotism’ however, in this case, the pilot has an epiphany where he chooses ‘life’, which is represented through this flag, formed by nature, over such values.
“figure of…”
eight”
Holds connotations of the eternal nature of nature. Nature is immortal compared to the transcience of human life, which is easily lost, is fragile and should be protected. The subject matter of the poem, the Kamikaze programme, is an explicit example of how short life can be, whereas nature remains, no matter how vicious a war - honour and heroism and even death are forgotten, but the world keeps turning.
“shoals of fishes, flashing _____ as their ________…
swivelled towards the ____”
If the sun represents life, and hope, the fish are swivelling towards life, just as the pilot will. All living things want to survive, it’s only unnatural not to try to get a taste of life when you can, especially in your dying moments. Although the Kamikaze scheme conditions the pilots against this, we are reminded of the fact that the situation the pilot finds himself in is inhumane.
Sibilance implies a sense of grace and peace that the pilot finds within nature whilst working to increase the pace of the poem to add more thought and emotion, as well as mimic the quickening of the pilot’s thoughts. A decision is on the periphery of his mind, and he has to make a choice desperately.
“cairns of _____-grey…
pebbles”
He recalls a memory with his own father and brother, establishing a sense of nostalgia, and a fear of losing his life setting in. He feels vulnerable, and lost, so he seeks safety in childhood memories and happier places, which we see in the repetition of the word ‘safe’.
The ‘cairns of pearl-grey pebbles’ could be metaphorical for the pilot’s thought of death, as they represent gravestones. He begins to consider the consequences of death and knows that if he completes the mission, he’ll not only lose his memories of loved ones, and leave a family behind, referenced through the reference to his brothers ‘waiting on the shore’, but he’ll also lose his ability to enjoy nature, and life.
The employment of the word ‘pearl’ alludes to the sacredness and scarcity of life and shows the pilot’s realisation that it should not end prematurely.
” a tuna, the dark ______…
muscular, dangerous.”
Even a Kamikaze pilot, the epitome of bravery, senses the power of nature.
The metaphor of the tuna being a ‘prince’, shows that honour should not be misplaced for a country, for nationalism, for corrupt nations, but instead for nature.
The final full-stop not only shows the finality of his story, but also signs off the writers note to readers that nature is all-worthy and above all else. Although the pilot does return home, and does not die, it is still the end of his narrative. Shows the restrictive and unforgiving nature of governments as well as societal values - it was still the end of him, and his identity and value was easily removed and discarded.
“nor did she ______ his ______”
The pilot returns but is treated as though he doesn’t exist - even his wife, and eventually his children.
The eyes are the window to the soul, but it is implied that the pilot is figuratively dead, as his soul was almost left behind at that scene where he found himself once again.
Even his wife is ashamed of who he has become inside. She doesn’t want to meet eyes with him, or communicate with him, but could also be ashamed of herself, and the way she has been conditioned to treat him - inescapable cultural demands.
“till gradually we too _______”
The cultural teachings inevitably filter down to the younger generations, as the pilot’s daughter, the narrator also grew into her mother, and was taught to disregard him.
“he must have _______…
which had been the ______ way to die”
Metaphorical death; honour in conflict, specifically in Japan is placed above all else. His story has not been told be historians, but a daughter who didn’t even know him. He gave up his honour to live, but even then, he lived a life of a dead person. The severe and unforgiving control of the military over soldiers’ lives is demonstrated, as even their deaths have been altered.
Brief CONTEXT for author
Garland wanted to explore the psyschology and motivations behind committing suicide for one’s country, and the restrictive mindset that patriotic propaganda forms.
Structure
The poem is structured into tightly controlled stanza lengths of 6 lines, which perhaps
reflects the order and obedience expected of a soldier.
This structure is juxtaposed and undermined by the free verse and enjambment.
The attempts of freedom within the confines of the strict stanza structure suggests her father had his own desires, roles and individuality within the constrictions put in place by the Japanese government.
The free verse and enjambment could also show that he is starting to doubt his obedience and realised he wants to pursue the freedom and beauty of life unrestrained. This reminds the reader, and perhaps society, that the soldiers depicted in the poem are still individuals. This structural
juxtaposition also could reflect the conflict between military commitment and cultural pride, and desire for life and freedom.
Last Word “die”
Garland selects the word “die” as the last word of the poem, which creates a sense of futility and inevitable fate.
