Everything in Life is Metaphor
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The novel divided into two storylines. The odd chapters talk about Kafka’s story with a realistic approach, and even chapters talk about Mr. Nakata’s story with the illusory approach. Nakata’s story is more like a dream which seems to be endowed with metaphorical meaning. However, although the odd chapters told readers the story by a realistic approach, many plots such as dreams Kafka made at night and the flicker of bulbs in the room where Kafka lived in these chapters metaphor to tell what will happen to him later. The novel shows an expert hand in mounting deceptions and building suspense; the story abounds in unexpected twists, and the plot develops with terse concentration and an irresistible appeal that drives readers to absorb the whole in a single sitting. Indeed, the reader relishes Murakami’s unique logical language, the clear shaping of his characters, and the mystery, modernity, and symbolism built into the novel’s architecture.
Lai, Chen-nan. “Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore: everything in life is metaphor.” Fu Jen Studies: Literature & Linguistics, vol. 39, 2005, p. 131. Expanded Academic ASAP, http://link.galegroup.com.udel.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A165939821/EAIM?u=udel_main&sid=EAIM&xid=b9722ed2. Accessed 12 May 2019.
The Name of “Kafka”
Learn more about: Kafka
The name of “Kafka” is a mystery in the book “Kafka on the Shore”. The main character uses “Kafka” as his name in the whole novel. He didn’t mention his real in the novel. Murakami used this name based on Franz Kafka’s name. Franz is Murakami’s favorite writer. In addition, the name of “Kafka” is a perfect illustration of paradox and passive resistance. This name also carried a specific meaning within his family in this novel. “Kafka” as the antonomasia in this novel instead of the proper name. Murakami used “Kafka” this name to metaphor some contemporary problems in nowaday’s society in Japan. Also, Murakami’s novel’s titles refer to Franz Kafka and his literary works. He uses “Kafka” directly in his novel create a chain of continuous metonymical references throughout Murakami’s entire novels.
Wasihun, Betiel. “The Name ‘Kafka’: Evocation and Resistance in Haruki Murakami’ Kafka on the Shore.” Project Muse, vol. 129, Dec. 2014, muse.jhu.edu.udel.idm.oclc.org/article/577655.
Japanese-English Translation
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Philip Gabriel is the writer who translates Murakami Haruki’s novel “Kafka on the Shore” from Japanese into English. He has translated several works of Murakami Haruki. According to him, Murakami’s novel always comes a new style which never appears before. This novel is divided into two storylines, and Philip found that it is a challenge to find the right voice for these two characters because both Kafka and Nakata are not fully adults. In addition, these characters’ setting is different from Murakami’s early works. Another challenge is to find a way to deal with the wordplay. Although he thinks it is intense for him to translate, he founds that he starts to feel like translating becomes a part of his daily life.
Lu Yao ’19