American Literature

According to philosophers Idealism refers to any philosophical thinking that proposes that realism is largely influence by our school of thought rather than other independent events occurring around us. Therefore, the way we perceive the world and things around us reveals the inner thought process occurring in our mind. They records that the appearance of the things around us have little significance in the way they we perceive them in the mind. They shares the view that it is all in the way we set our minds and they also proposes that extreme forms of idealism can even lead one to doubt even whether the world does exist outside our realms of thinking. This notion is exemplified in the Patriotism The story about Lieutenant Shiji Takeyama and his wifes consented double suicide.

The story tells of how the couples consented on taking their own lives the wife after the husband only six months into their marriage. This might seem to be an act of madness but as the story unfolds, they all seem to be at peace with their decision and were looking forward to it illustrating that they had set their mind on homicide and notwithstanding the peaceful and enjoyable marriage they were having could prevent them from their decision extreme idealism where even what is around us does not influence thought process. The fact that the wife Reiko did not mind the sight of the husband committing suicide and then follow suite might seem like an act of madness (Yuko, n.d). However, the tranquility within which the entire episode happens reveals that they had all set in their mind that what they were doing was the right thing and they had come to accept it.

It is evident in lieutenants takemoyos mind that his profession as a soldier risked death anytime, a point he raised with his wife on their wedding night that any soldiers wife should accept that the husbands death might come any time. A point Reiko accepted. It is recorded in the passage that Reiko and shiji never contradicted each other on any issue since they were living under the injunction of education rescript that stated that couples should always live in harmony. It is no wonder that when Shiiji resolved to commit suicide, Reiko did not object and resolved also to do the same.

Shiijis resolve to commit suicide was driven by a loyalty he had for his friends whom he was under orders to attack because they were labeled as rebels. This was so rigidly set in his mind that it is recorded in the passage saying he couldnt handle attacking them and death was his resolve. A decision that was so strong that it is recorded in the passage that in his mind there was no hesitation. Such unwavering loyalty was also evident in his wife because of the decision to join him in the decision and support her (Yuko, n.d). The passage records that Reiko was so eager to feel the bitter side and the sweet side of the high ethical principle his husband believed in of dying for his friends, the imperial forces and the national army

From the passage it is evident just how our beliefs and actions are influenced largely by our mind and thought process and how this form of idealism can lead us to doing some extraordinary decisions and actions.