Parallel narratives & alternate worlds in Murakami’s novels

Abstract

That conflict grows from any form of opposition is perhaps nowhere more evident than in Haruki Murakami’s novels, where his use of opposing elements – specifically in terms of thematic architecture, story structure and plot – is meticulous, leading to the creation of alternate and parallel worlds both within and outside his characters. Murakami’s overarching themes are consistently characterized by their study of opposites in action - being and non-being, the conscious and sub-conscious states of the human mind, memory and illusion, and even life and death. Despite the surreal nature of much of his work, his novels find their appeal and their grounding through his consideration of these deep and profound contrasts. Thus, this thesis seeks to examine the absorbing dramatic tension generated by these contrasts, these alternate and parallel worlds, through Murakami’s use of conventional narrative devices in certain of his novels.