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Analysis Of The Poem ' Norwegian Wood '

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Music is what allows many to relax and clear their minds but Haruki Muarakami uses it in his writing to add another layer of complexity. In a novel filled with complicated human emotions, ambiguous endings, and constant symbolism Murakami also adds in a multitude of musical references most prominently from the band The Beatles. While it’s easy to overlook these references as unimportant character traits it becomes apparent as the novel continues that music is purposely bound to this novel for a distinctive purpose. In the novel Norwegian Wood by Haruki Marakami music is used to mirror characters, foreshadow, and be used as dramatic irony.
“Norwegian Wood” is not only the title of Haruki Murakami’s novel but it is also the first Beatles song we hear in the book. The song immediately becomes a important and integral part of the story because it what originally takes us into Toru’s memories of Naoko. One of the first details Toru recalls when thinking about his time in the meadow with Naoko after hearing the song is seeing, “Two bright red birds leap startled from the center of the meadow and dart into the woods” (Murakami, 6). While this may seem like an unnecessary detail it is important to note that the song “Norwegian Wood’s” full title is actually “Norwegian Wood (This Bird has Flown)”. Because this is the song that reminds Toru of Naoko from the beginning it seems clear that Murakami wants the reader to piece together that Naoko has flown away from Toru. Using a
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