The very truth of life is beautifully depicted by the internationally acclaimed Japanese writer Haruki Murakami in his bestselling novel, “Norwegian Wood.”[break]
The title of this novel is taken from a popular Beatles song with the same caption. The main character, Naoko, is crazy about the song, so the writer most likely derived this title to make her memory alive as she commits suicide in her early twenties.
The novel is the real tale of every person – you, me, and everybody. The incident, which occurs in this novel, is very lively as everybody is prone to fall in love, experience romance and indulge in sex, go through separation, and face death. But the death of our beloved ones can never separate us from the impression and memory we have of them. Therefore, Toru Watanabe, the narrator and the protagonist of this novel, is so influenced by the memory of her late friend, Naoko.
Naoko develops certain psychological problems after the suicide of her boyfriend, Kizuki. Even after meeting her best friend Watanabe in Tokyo, she cannot console herself. Meanwhile, their relationship grows a little more than friendship per se. But this growing relationship ends with the physical contact they make with each other during the celebrations of her twentieth birthday in her flat because after that encounter, she disappears.
Watanabe comes to know later that she is in a sanatorium in Kyoto. She developed mental complications, so leaving her studies, she joined the sanatorium. Watanabe goes there to see her.
In the meantime, he is happy to get to know Reiko, Naoko’s music teacher. He also knows about Reiko’s bitter truth that how a thirteen-year-old student, a lesbian, had destroyed her life spreading the rumor of her being lesbian and mentally sick. Later, she cannot handle the situation and breaks down.
Watanabe makes a new friend in Nagasawa, who lives in the same dormitory. He celebrates his life enjoying every night with new girls. Watanabe, too, is slightly affected by his new friend’s activities and starts loitering around with different girls. But later on, he stops all his activities and concentrates on his study and job while thinking of Naoko. He writes her every week. Unfortunately, Naoko’s condition worsens day by day, and she is taken to hospital. After some recovery, she returns to the sanatorium where she commits suicide.
Her death makes Watanabe break down. He lingers around for months without any purpose, just thinking of her. He does not take care of loving Midori with whom he has developed relationship.
Midori is also a miserable lady whose parents have died recently of cancer and brain tumor, leaving a younger sister with her. Her sister is going to get married soon, and she has just left her strange boyfriend and is waiting for Watanabe. Wandering here and there for many days, he suddenly realizes that he should start a new life, and returns to Tokyo.
Reiko, leaving the sanatorium, comes to meet Watanabe. They drink, sing and remember Naoko the whole night. Despite their age gap, they have sex. The next day, she leaves the city. Now he remembers Midori and calls her. But he cannot answer where he is when she asks him. He just sees the throng of people around him and gets confused.
This novel ends with Watanabe’s confused state of mind. Murakami has openly ended the novel for readers to predict the condition of troubled Watanabe. He may go crazy due to the unbearable incidents in his life, but there is also the possibility of his union with Midori who is waiting for him.
All the characters – Toru, Naoko, Midori, Reiko, and Nagasawa – live very momentary lives in Norwegian Wood. They excessively indulge in alcohol and sex, among other things. They are the representatives of the 1960s Pop Generation who only celebrate the moment at hand. The suicides of Kizuki, Naoko, and Hatsumi point to the depression this generation is carrying instead of the excess freedom they are seemingly embracing.
Related story
Udan: Depiction of female psyche
