Murakami Haruki’s Literary Thoughts--- 《1Q84》-based

• Main Authors: Chang,Chun-Yu, 張純毓
• Other Authors: Bing Zhuang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27609288510858081857

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 東方人文思想研究所 === 100 === The long novel 《1Q84》 which is the most recent work by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami is written in customary terse, precise descriptions with implied meaning-rich dialogues to shape a solitary, resolute role of sharp personality. Murakami uses plots of fantasy story to lead novel characters to run through the innermost trauma and loss, illuminate the spiritual gaps in surreal situations of a different world, introspect the meaning of life, and achieve self redemption with the pursuit of true love. This essay aims to analyze the narrative points of view and form of literary expression, including metaphor, symbol, dark scene, application of intertextuality and its special style. This study also explores the rich plot elements and topical thoughts displayed in this novel, and thereby clarifies Murakami’s connotation toward introspection on family, society, religion and human nature in this work through the comparison with the writer’s literary works before introducing 《1Q84》. It thus makes definite Murakami’s change of writing attitude from forms of alienation presented in his early works to forms of concern he shows for the society. Murakami has always deemed writing as one self-healing behavior, and extensive self- examination of spiritual suffering in his work is usually the issue that novel characters will face. 《1Q84》interweaves the searched adventure story with the searcher’s role and the guider’s role. In his desolate and bewildered life, the leading role of this novel attempts to combat restrictions in the environment for his growth and constraints from family or thoughts, and search for self strength and the meaning of existence through difficult process. Topical thought expressed by 《1Q84》takes the exit of looking for soul as the core to search for one true Nirvana for soul under oppression and imprisonment, and the channels include belief, love and writing. Characters in the novel having suffered certain forms of harm, no mater Tengo, Aomame, Ushikawa, Tamaru, The Dowager or Ayumi, initiate themselves respectively in difficulty and solitude to search for redemption with different directions. Murakami also arranges one path for each role to search for spiritual peace that guides them to the maze into which the meaning of existence sinks in order to find the exhit. Murakami takes Aum Doomsday Cult incident as the background to conducts introspection upon thought bondages and value distortion of moral goodness and evil caused by religious organizations. The writer also conducts introspection upon minute and vague violence existed in family and society. From perspectives of religion and good and evil, 《1Q84》delves into violent behaviors that not only expands his novel layout but also enriches his internationalized literary value. Having constantly lasted humanistic concern in his works, Murakami uses his novel as a weapon to combat “spiritual cage” and applies story’s strength to enrich human spirit and widen humans’ horizons, and enriches human experience with imagination that offers the exit for spiritual redemption for each soul.