Der Held der See

The novel delves into the unsettling psyche of its young characters, but I'm curious about what motivated Mishima to focus on this tension. Was it influenced by post-war Japan or personal experiences?

The characters' descent into nihilism felt both fascinating and disturbing. Did others find their transformation believable or unsettling?

The story is set against a backdrop of societal change, and I wonder how much Mishima's perspective was shaped by this context. Would the story be different in another era?