Norwegian Wood Second Reading Journal

 

         Throughout the whole story, there was no “ordinary” person. From our main character Toru Watanabe to Midori, everyone had flaws. However, considering the problem in what can be called normal and what can be not, maybe Murakami was trying to show how people should just let go of some things.

           From the start to the end, Toru Watanabe wanders from person to person, not able to stick to one. His first acquaintances from the book are Kizuki and Naoko, who have profound influence upon Toru. Kizuki’s death twisted the plot permanently. It left a wound on Naoko’s heart which never healed despite Toru’s efforts and finally bled Naoko also to death. Toru too is greatly affected by his closest friend’s death and Naoko’s suffering, because he cared greatly about both of them. Why Kizuki died is not stated in the book, leaving the readers to speculate. However, the death of Naoko seems clear. To her, Kizuki was her dearest friend, and without him, she felt incomplete. Even Toru was unable to fill the empty spot, because Naoko felt guilty about forgetting her lifetime boyfriend and starting off a new life with a previous third wheeler. Naoko was not able to let go of Kizuki and her attitude let to her demise.

           Contrary to Naoko, Toru and Reiko can be seen as people who finally succeeded to let go of their past and keep living on. They, the living, had to go on. In Toru’s case, when he was obsessed with Naoko, who he was not able to make his, his life did not go on smoothly. He was unable to make ordinary relationships with other people; all he could do was to think of Naoko in the sanatorium. Thankfully, Midori showed up. She, too, was a character with burst of energy unlike other indifferent people. She approached Toru and kept on taking a part of his life, even when Toru hid himself away from other people. Such efforts of Midori was effective and freed Toru from his obsession and guiltiness of Naoko. If Midori was not present in Toru's life, Toru might again be the victim of next suicide. Reiko too was one of the people who were stuck in their past. Her trauma made her prisoner for 8 years. However, this time Toru allowed Reiko to become free and enter the society. Both were able to let go and start off a new life.
           Many people live inside their past, unable to go on further. The more one dwells inside one's own world, the more they are secluded from others. Haruki Murakami taught those people need to become free and take a step.