Kafka on the Shore: A Semi-Analysis
Haruki Murakami (村上春樹) is a Japanese author whose notable works of literature include Norwegian Wood, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore, and Men Without Women. He is regarded as one of Japan’s best novelists with an influential, surreal style. I decided to read Kafka on the Shore because of an AP Lit project, but it was also the perfect excuse to get back into reading after a dry spell. I didn’t expect much from the book initially, and I went in not knowing what to expect. I’ve only read about 360 of the around 500 pages, and I’ve been extremely pleased.
I’ll try to avoid spoilers to the best of my ability, but that means I’ll have to leave out crucial sections of the book.
Overview
Kafka on the Shore follows two stories at once, and they alternate chapters. We start with fifteen-year-old Kafka Tamura, a boy who lives only with his father in Tokyo, since his mother and older sister ran away. He decides to take some spare money and set off west to Takamatsu, working and staying at a library. He slowly starts to learn about his past and he starts to question himself as inexplicable things happen around him.
Our other protagonist is Satoru Nakata, an old man in his sixties. After a strange event during his childhood, when he was around 14 years old, he lost the ability to read or write Japanese, but he gained the ability to talk to cats. His calm life is interrupted when he travels away from his home at Nakano ward and inexplicable things happen; fish fall out of the sky, he meets a human-looking figure who apparently is neither human nor god, and he meets Hoshino, who met up with a girl of the night who talked about Bergson’s and Hegel’s ideas during the most inappropriate time.
The paths of the two characters intersect in seemingly inexplicable ways, and the puzzles and mysteries that present themselves make the book an intriguing and satisfying read.
Analysis
The characters in Kafka on the Shore are complex and nuanced; they aren’t inherently good or bad. Kafka and Nakata both perform some pretty questionable actions, yet the morality behind those actions is gray, rather than clear-cut. The emotions that Kafka feels, along with his many inner conflicts, help portray his developing character as he becomes more independent after running away from home. Nakata’s generally a caring person despite being clueless at times and despite not being able to read or write. His behavior around cats contrasts with his behavior around humans, and that reveals two different sides to his character.
So far, the book explores themes of identity, fate, and reality in contrast with imagination. The characters change and grow as they embark on their respective journeys, and Kafka experiences many new things while working at the library. He runs away to escape a curse placed on his family, but as inexplicable things happen, he becomes less sure that he actually broke the curse, and he worries that the curse could have followed him across cities. He experiences events that seem surreal, events that remain only as memories of the past, and that affects his view of reality.
Merit
Murakami’s writing style is unique. Yes, it has its flaws, and yes, some scenes in the book are uncomfortable. However, Kafka on the Shore is certainly a text of merit. It’s a complex book, and the two separate storylines, along with certain details purposefully kept hidden, leave many interpretations open. The book often leaves the reader with more questions than they started with, and its filled with riddles that become more transparent as the plot progresses, and as the protagonists learn more about their situation. It alludes to several classics, one of them being Macbeth, and another being Oedipus Rex. It’s a somewhat philosophical book (other than the girl spewing philosophy), and it can leave the reader with many open thoughts about the events that occurred.
Opinion
I’m not finished with the book yet, but I do think it’s an amazing book, other than the occasional violent or explicit scene. The first few paragraphs were confusing for me to follow, and things only began to clear up around chapter 21. However, the feeling I felt when I finally had enough of the puzzle to piece things together was amazing, surreal even. I’d certainly recommend this book, although I recognize it’s not for everyone.
Life Update!
I only have one somewhat significant update. December is going to be filled with finals, a huge AP Lit project, and college applications, which is nothing out of the ordinary. However, I was able to text and call a Japanese person, which was really fun, and slightly nerve-wracking. I realized once again that theory and practice are so different in a language-learning context, and while my Japanese and her English were alright at best, we had a lot of fun during our call.
That’s all for this week.
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