COMPARATIVE ESSAY WITH BOOK KAFKA ON THE SHORE AND HAMLET

COMPARATIVE ESSAY WITH BOOK KAFKA ON THE SHORE AND HAMLET
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(May 28, 2012)
COMPARATIVE ESSAY WITH BOOK KAFKA ON THE SHORE AND HAMLET
Introduction
Kafka on the Shore by Murakami and Hamlet by Shakespeare contain various themes. The themes can be compared in several ways. Kafka on the Shore is a collection of many things. The main character in the novel is Kafka Tamura. He remains the main character although he spends little time on any shore. For example, Kafka on the Shore illustrates the typical blend of popular culture by Murakami. The novel also contains suspense, magical realism and mundane detail (Murakami, 2011).
The theme of religion and culture are well illustrated in the novel. In the real sense, the novel emphasizes much on the various religious traditions of the Japanese people specifically the Shinto. Actually, beauty and the power of music as a medium of communication illustrate the theme of culture within this novel. In the actual sense, the title of the book emanates from a pop song given to Kafka in the library by the use of a record. The Beethoven music particularly the Archduke Trio is additionally utilized as redemptive type of metaphor. The other important themes in the book include the theme of efficiency and self-sufficiency. In addition, there are the themes of reality and dreams, the heritage specter of World War II, fate threat, the power of nature and the uncertain prophecy grip. The book simply tries to question the nature of various subjects. This includes the nature of love, family and love. In the book, we come across a discussion of the work of Kafka’s father as a sculptor. This work had been characterized as being both uncompromising and powerful by Oshima. From this kind of work, Kafka expresses a sense that the work of his father was rooted from an unusual thing. Furthermore, Oshima gives an affirmation to this and develops the idea. He gives a suggestion that the father of Kafka was linked to some given source. This was something past good and evil. In a different passage, the same reference is given during the discussion between Colonel Sanders and Hoshino. Sanders tries to explain "...I don't need to judge whether people are good or evil. Likewise I don't have to act according to standards of good and evil." To which Hoshino replies, "In other words you exist beyond good and evil" (pg. 284). The novel is perfect when Murakami makes attempts to converge his traditional impacts with the modern setting. As mentioned earlier, the book has plenty of themes. These themes are capable of intriguing a lot of potential readers of the novel. These themes are various philosophical discussions in the same way as Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Additionally, there exist some discussions centered on literacy tropes like metaphor and allegory. Art and music are also well illustrated within the novel. Consequently, Murakami tries to address gender and feminism in a way that is indirect. Also, he tries to weave various spiritual themes in Asia like rebirth and enlightenment. There is also the illustration of very interesting imagery concerning body fluids. Thus, it is extremely fascinating that some of main themes within the novel are metaphor and the Oedipus myth. Furthermore, the title for the book originates from a poem, a painting and a song connected to a tormented matron of a library. The matron inhabits a limbo between the past and present. The structure of the novel is an extremely creative one. In the novel, the stories of Kafka and Nakata are told parallel to each other. In addition, these stories run in an alternate fashion. For example, Kafka who is the runaway tells his story using the first person. On the other hand, on the contrary, the story of Nakata is told using the third person (Murakami, 2011).
The situation seems very different in Shakespeare’s Hamlet play. The theme of revenge is well illustrated in the novel. The revenge of Hamlet against Claudius results into his pain and the u...