The topic, per the theme of the course, is identifying those ideas in the story that make the strange seem familiar vis-a-vie the individual and society.

The topic, per the theme of the course, is identifying those ideas in the story that make the strange seem familiar vis-a-vie the individual and society.

Now that you’ve read the book, a world with which you were presumably pretty unknowledgable about –that of late 1960’s Tokyo– now may seem strangely familiar. Characters remind you of people you know, and incidents, settings, and struggles reflect many of your own. What about the story seems highly relevant to you, appreciating that these similarities too place over a generation ago on the other side of the planet. The Norwegian Wood as we read it is itself a translation, of course, written by a Japanese author, in Japanese, for a Japanese audience. But if your forum posts are any indication, you get it – the story and its characters don’t seem so foreign after all.

The essay should of course revolve around the reading, with specific examples drawn from the text used to facilitate your observations. A strong paper should include plenty such examples, as well as deep personal reflection.

Link for the book: http://www.macobo.com/essays/epdf/Haruki%20Murakami%20-%20Norwegian%20Wood.pdf

ANSWER

Norwegian Wood is the narrative of a young man, Toru Watanabe, who is ruined by the suicide of his secondary school acquaintance, Kizuki. Toru gets involved with Kizuki’s emotionally disturbed girlfriend, Naoko. When Naoko is admitted to a mental hospital, he pledges to wait for her until she recovers (Murakami 140). Meanwhile, though, Toru commence a love affair with Midori, an outgoing and open girl who represents life. Eventually, Naoko kills herself, filling Toru with guilt, but ultimately the young man calls out to Midori. The events in this story, as demonstrated in the subsequent sections, reveal ideas that make the strange appear familiar, face-to-face with the individual and society.

First, the author highlights the idea of isolation and loneliness. The idea of loneliness creates an environment similar to the one confronted by the modern young generation. A sense of isolation permeates the lives of the main characters, including Watanabe. The characters are isolated from their close relatives, peers, and each other. While it would appear naturally beneficial for Naoko and Toru to comfort each other after losing their friend, Kizuki, Naoko is overwhelmed with pressures of life and her lingering anguish for Kizuki. Hence, she rejects Toru’s affection and opts for the solitude she establishes within her own isolated and shrinking world (Murakami 162). Also devastated by the Kizuki’s death, while becoming lonelier and more uncertain about his identity, the rejected Toru half-heartedly approach Midori, a sexually confident and outspoken girl.

The 1960s’ sexual freedom underlies Toru’s tussle towards adulthood. On the same note, the numerous prevalent cultural insertions in the story generate a narrative less exclusively Japanese and more globally pertinent as a developing tale, which feature Japanese protagonists. Pertinent to Toru’s scuffle are occurrences of Japan’s history as it underscores the story’s setting and as outlines of Japanese culture. The experience of residing away from home and interacting with new peers, a critical experience faced by Toru, always encourage unity among college scholars, and Japanese colleges are no exception. Toru rarely meet or interact with his family members. He found new friends in school and despite tragedies and grief; he remains determined to strengthen his relationship with peers (Murakami 158). The novel also reveals the idea of death and grief that characterizes the lives of the main protagonists. Loss, heartbreak, and grief are central motifs within the Murakami’s novel. Inexplicable, outrageous suicides of the youngster take place throughout the narrative. Naoko, Kizuki, Hatsumi, and Naoko’s elder sister are the notable…