The Sound of Waves
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16
Themes
All Themes Lessons from Nature Love, Sex, and Devotion Coming of Age Class, Wealth, and Power Gossip and Rumor
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Shinji Kubo Hatsue Miyata Yasuo Kawamoto Shinji’s Mother Terukichi Miyata The Lighthouse-keeper The Lighthouse-keeper’s Wife Chiyoko Hiroshi Kubo Jukichi Oyama Ryuji The Captain
Symbols
All Symbols Pearl Diving Hornets
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The Sound of Waves

by

Yukio Mishima

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13
  • Chapter 14
  • Chapter 15
  • Chapter 16
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Lessons from Nature Theme Icon
    Lessons from Nature
  • Love, Sex, and Devotion Theme Icon
    Love, Sex, and Devotion
  • Coming of Age Theme Icon
    Coming of Age
  • Class, Wealth, and Power Theme Icon
    Class, Wealth, and Power
  • Gossip and Rumor Theme Icon
    Gossip and Rumor
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Shinji Kubo
  • Hatsue Miyata
  • Yasuo Kawamoto
  • Shinji’s Mother
  • Terukichi Miyata
  • The Lighthouse-keeper
  • The Lighthouse-keeper’s Wife
  • Chiyoko
  • Hiroshi Kubo
  • Jukichi Oyama
  • Ryuji
  • The Captain
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Pearl Diving Symbol Icon
    Pearl Diving
  • Hornets Symbol Icon
    Hornets
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
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Previous
The Captain

The Sound of Waves Symbols

Next
Pearl Diving

Pearl Diving

Throughout The Sound of Waves, the act of pearl diving symbolizes the beauty within struggle. Just as the women who live on the island of Uta-jima push their bodies to the limit in pursuit of…

read analysis of Pearl Diving

Pearl Diving Symbol Icon

Hornets

In The Sound of Waves, hornets symbolize the ways in which those who fail to learn the lessons of nature will always suffer. When the brash, narcissistic, and jealous Yasuo begins to fear that he…

read analysis of Hornets

Hornets Symbol Icon
Previous
The Captain
Previous
The Captain
Next
Pearl Diving
Next
Pearl Diving

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