loose silver o whitebait tuna dark prince muscular dangerous

• Analysis - "The loose silver of whitebait"


  In the stanza containing “The loose silver of whitebait and once a tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous,” the imagery of fish connects deeply to themes of betrayal and strength. The whitebait evokes betrayal, drawing on the Biblical allusion to Judas Iscariot and his thirty pieces of silver, symbolizing the father’s perceived betrayal of Japan by rejecting his kamikaze mission.
• Analysis - "And once a tuna, the dark prince, muscular, dangerous,”


  The tuna as “the dark prince” offers dual interpretations: it may represent the Japanese royal family, whose authority compels such sacrifices, or the father’s subversive act of defiance. By choosing life over death, his decision is both “muscular” and “dangerous,” an act of moral strength against societal expectations. 
• Structure

  The shift in narrative suggests the daughter has reconciled with her father, now welcoming him as her children’s grandfather, hinting at redemption and familial recovery.