Norwegian Wood: A Commentary

“But who can say what's best? That's why you need to grab whatever chance you have of happiness where you find it, and not worry about other people too much. My experience tells me that we get no more than two or three such chances in a life time, and if we let them go, we regret it for the rest of our lives.”
― Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood.

Norwegian Wood (1987) by Haruki Murakami is a melancholic, introspective novel that captures the essence of love, loss, and the intricate dynamics of human relationships. Set against the backdrop of 1960s Japan, a time of social upheaval and student protests, the novel navigates the internal struggles of the protagonist, Toru Watanabe, as he reflects on his youth, his relationships with two women, and the larger questions of meaning and existence. In this commentary, we will delve into the central themes of the novel, the complexity of its characters, Murakami’s unique narrative style, and the philosophical undertones that make Norwegian Wood an emotionally resonant and intellectually compelling work of literature.

While Norwegian Wood focuses primarily on the emotional and psychological landscapes of its characters, the setting plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative. The novel is set in 1960s Japan, a time when the country was experiencing significant social change. Student protests against the government and institutions were becoming increasingly prominent, and there was a palpable sense of rebellion against the established norms. This period of political unrest, however, is portrayed in the novel with a sense of disillusionment, as many characters, including Toru, express a sense of detachment from the world around them.

For Toru, the political climate is largely irrelevant to his personal struggles. He neither aligns himself with the student protests nor engages in ideological debates. Instead, his focus remains on the deeply personal—the emotional complexities of love, loss, and identity. This sense of alienation reflects a broader theme in the novel: the disconnection between individuals and the world around them, a common theme in Murakami's works. While the world undergoes significant transformations, the characters in Norwegian Wood are largely preoccupied with their own internal battles, giving the novel a sense of existential isolation that echoes the philosophy of writers like Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre.

At the heart of Norwegian Wood is Toru Watanabe, a reserved and introspective young man who is haunted by the memory of his first love, Naoko. The novel is structured as a retrospective narrative, with Toru recalling his youth and the relationships that defined that period of his life. This use of memory as a narrative device allows Murakami to explore the theme of nostalgia in a way that is both poignant and haunting.

Toru’s reflections are tinged with a deep sense of melancholy, as he grapples with the fragility of life and the inevitability of loss. He is a character caught between two worlds: the idealized past, represented by his relationship with Naoko, and the uncertain present, embodied by his growing affection for Midori, a vivacious and free-spirited woman who represents a potential future. This tension between the past and the present is central to Toru’s internal conflict, as he struggles to reconcile his feelings for Naoko, who is emotionally and mentally fragile, with his desire for a more stable and fulfilling relationship with Midori.

Toru's character, in many ways, represents the existential everyman—a figure who is searching for meaning in a world that often seems indifferent to individual suffering. His relationships with Naoko and Midori serve as reflections of his own internal dilemmas, as he oscillates between the pull of memory and the need to move forward in life. Through Toru, Murakami explores the idea that our past relationships and experiences leave an indelible mark on our psyche, shaping who we are and how we navigate the world.

One of the most compelling aspects of Norwegian Wood is its portrayal of the two women who play pivotal roles in Toru’s life: Naoko and Midori. These characters represent two very different forms of love and attachment, and their contrasting personalities highlight the novel’s exploration of the complexities of human relationships.

Naoko is a deeply troubled character who has been scarred by the suicide of her childhood friend and lover, Kizuki. Her emotional fragility and mental instability make her both enigmatic and tragic. For Toru, Naoko represents a love that is intertwined with loss and grief. Their relationship is marked by a sense of incompleteness and yearning, as Naoko’s inability to fully engage with the world around her creates a barrier between them. Her mental illness becomes a symbol of the inescapability of the past and the weight of unresolved trauma. Naoko’s retreat into a sanatorium, where she attempts to heal, further emphasizes the theme of isolation and the difficulty of connection.

In contrast, Midori is vibrant, outspoken, and unapologetically herself. She represents a more modern and liberated form of love, one that is based on mutual understanding and emotional openness. While Naoko is distant and elusive, Midori is present and direct, offering Toru the possibility of a relationship that is grounded in the present rather than the past. Midori’s character embodies a sense of agency and independence that contrasts sharply with Naoko’s passivity. Through her, Murakami explores the idea that love can be a source of life and vitality, rather than a burden of grief and obligation.

The contrast between Naoko and Midori highlights the choices that Toru must make in his emotional journey. Does he remain tethered to the past, clinging to the memory of a love that is fraught with pain and loss, or does he embrace the possibility of a new beginning with someone who is fully alive and engaged with the world? This dichotomy between the two women serves as a reflection of Toru’s own internal struggle between nostalgia and progress, between despair and hope.

Death is a recurring theme in Norwegian Wood, and it manifests in various ways throughout the novel. The suicides of Kizuki and Naoko cast a long shadow over Toru’s life, and the novel’s exploration of mental illness and the fragility of the human mind is deeply intertwined with its portrayal of love and loss. Naoko’s struggle with mental illness, in particular, is portrayed with sensitivity and nuance, as Murakami delves into the complexities of trauma and the ways in which it can shape one’s emotional and psychological landscape.

The novel’s treatment of suicide is both tragic and reflective. Kizuki’s death, which occurs before the events of the novel, serves as the catalyst for much of the emotional turmoil that follows. His suicide leaves both Naoko and Toru grappling with feelings of guilt, confusion, and helplessness. Naoko, in particular, is unable to move past the trauma of losing Kizuki, and her eventual suicide underscores the theme of the inescapability of the past.

Murakami’s portrayal of suicide is neither sensationalized nor romanticized. Instead, it is presented as a tragic consequence of deep emotional and psychological pain. The characters in Norwegian Wood who are affected by suicide are left to navigate the aftermath, dealing with the complex emotions of grief, guilt, and existential uncertainty. Through these characters, Murakami explores the devastating impact that suicide can have on those left behind, as well as the broader questions it raises about the nature of suffering and the meaning of life.

One of the defining features of Norwegian Wood is Murakami’s distinctive narrative style, which blends the real with the surreal in a way that creates a dreamlike quality throughout the novel. While the story is grounded in the everyday experiences of its characters—love, loss, friendship, and personal growth—there is an underlying sense of otherworldliness that permeates the narrative. This is particularly evident in the way Murakami portrays memory and time, with the past and present often merging in Toru’s reflections.

Murakami’s use of simple, understated prose allows the emotional depth of the story to shine through without being overshadowed by overly complex language or literary flourishes. This minimalist style, combined with the novel’s introspective tone, creates an atmosphere of quiet contemplation, allowing readers to engage deeply with the characters’ internal worlds. At the same time, Murakami’s frequent use of metaphor and symbolism adds layers of meaning to the narrative, encouraging readers to explore the deeper philosophical questions that underpin the story.

The novel’s title itself, Norwegian Wood, is a reference to the Beatles’ song of the same name, and music plays a significant role in the novel. The song becomes a symbol of nostalgia and unrequited love, reflecting Toru’s own feelings of longing and melancholy. The use of music as a recurring motif in the novel adds to its dreamlike quality, as songs and memories blend together to create a sense of emotional resonance that lingers long after the novel ends.

At its core, Norwegian Wood is a deeply existential novel. It grapples with questions of identity, meaning, and the inevitability of death. Toru’s journey is one of self-discovery, as he confronts the uncertainties of life and the complexities of human relationships. The novel’s exploration of mental illness, suicide, and grief is reflective of the existential idea that life is filled with suffering, and that individuals must find their own way of making sense of that suffering.

Murakami’s portrayal of Toru as a detached, introspective character is reminiscent of existentialist protagonists in the works of Albert Camus and Franz Kafka. Like Camus’ Meursault in The Stranger, Toru is often emotionally distant, observing the world around him with a sense of detachment. Yet, unlike Meursault, Toru is not entirely indifferent to the suffering of others. He is deeply affected by the deaths of Kizuki and Naoko, and his internal struggle to reconcile his feelings of grief with his desire for connection reflects the existential tension between isolation and the need for human relationships.

The novel also touches on the theme of free will, as Toru is constantly faced with choices that will shape his emotional and psychological trajectory. His relationships with Naoko and Midori represent two possible paths, and his decision to pursue one over the other reflects the existential idea that individuals are responsible for creating their own meaning in a world that offers no inherent purpose. Through Toru’s journey, Murakami explores the idea that love, loss, and personal growth are all part of the human experience, and that individuals must navigate these complexities in their own way.

Norwegian Wood is a novel that resonates deeply with readers because of its emotional honesty and its exploration of universal themes. Murakami’s portrayal of love, loss, mental illness, and the passage of time is both haunting and poignant, capturing the complexities of human relationships in a way that is both introspective and profound. Through the character of Toru Watanabe, Murakami invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of love and loss, and to consider the ways in which memory and nostalgia shape our understanding of the past.

Ultimately, Norwegian Wood is a novel about the fragility of life and the inevitability of change. It is a meditation on the ways in which we navigate the complexities of love and the pain of loss, and how we find meaning in a world that is often indifferent to our suffering. In its quiet, understated way, Norwegian Wood offers a powerful reflection on the human condition, reminding us that even in the face of tragedy, there is always the possibility of connection and renewal.