Overcoming The Shadows of The Past In Murukami’s Norwegian Wood

Abstract

The novel Norwegian Wood is thus about the burden that the dead exert on their survivors and the fact that life is meant to be spent caring for the living rather than the dead. Naoko is unable to overcome Kizuki’s suicide while Watanabe eventually realizes life is wasted spent pining after the dead and overcomes Kizuki’s and Naoko’s death and moves on into a new lasting love relationship with Midori who in her lively and vivacious ways is a refreshing respite from the mentally perturbed Naoko and whom Watanabe finds warmth and healing. However much Watanabe tries to heal Naoko of her past with his love, she cannot overcome the trauma of the lifelong bond she shared with Kizuki who was her childhood friend and soulmate. Her trap is Kizuki’s bond with her and his traumatic suicide which she cannot escape and forget, leading to her eventual suicide.