Before her husband's death, Etsuko had already learned that jealousy is futile if it cannot be controlled. So, when she arrives as a young widow at the estate of her late husband's family near Osaka, Etsuko is determined to hold back her emotions.
She silently accepts her father-in-law's nightly embraces, while a new hidden passion ignites within her. Shamburo is just a simple village boy, but Etsuko knows that what she feels for the handsome, naive lad is the only genuine emotion she has inside her. What matters most is to show him its authenticity and to get an answer.
Jealousy, love, passion, hatred – she can control all of them as long as there is hope. However, as that hope continues to fade, the passion of the helpless Etsuko gains a strength that can only be controlled by a horrendous act of violence.
"Mishima achieved a blend of contemplation, vision, and expression that few writers can match this century around the globe." Sunday Telegraph
