Self-Alienation of Haruki Murakami’s Characters in Norwegian Wood and Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage: A Novel.

Abstract

Haruki Murakami, one of the most outstanding Japanese authors, always comes up with excellent ideas of surrealistic stories.  His only realistic novel, Norwegian Wood (2003), is also a masterpiece. Translated from the original version entitled Noruwei no Mori (1987), this novel tells about an intricate story deep-rooted from the death of the beloved one. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage: A Novel(2014)is the notable work which comprises of such alienated characters.  The characters of Haruki Murakami often loners who alienate themselves from the family, society and oneself.  Though they are very ordinary human beings they detach themselves from the world and become aloof when loved ones disappear from their life. This paper aims to examine the subjectivity of the core characters: Kizuki, Naoko, Toru , and Tsukuruas they do specific fundamental actions to be free from their symbolic mechanism.Norwegian Wood (2003)Set in Tokyo, during the late 1960s, the background shows the student movement which grew more extensive after  World War II to protest the government.Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage: A Novel(2014)set in Nagoya during 1990s, Tsukru was a fan of Railway stations bearing colourless name that resulted in feeling suicidal.