literary analysis
Angelica Abordonado
David Uedoi
English 100
23 September 2014
A Natural and Privatized life Haruki Murakami, a Japanese writer of short story, The Year of Spaghetti. The depiction of Murakami’s stories with point-of-view narratives provides certain distinctiveness to the characters, depending on how the dialogue is conveyed. The abstract things the narrator says and does provide the idea of human isolation with little feelings of fear. Although the story has no definitive plot, it grabs hold of conflicting emotions between fear and loneliness. The unnamed protagonist in The Year of Spaghetti, illustrates the meaning of loneliness through naturalization and privatization.
According to the Article, Murakami Haruki and the Naturalization of Modernity, “Privatization is the process that makes naturalization possible.” (Cassegard 87) The first paragraph of Haruki’s story, The Year of Spaghetti, already shows how alone and private his life it. He says, “I cooked spaghetti to live, and lived to cook spaghetti.” (pg. 178) It already seems as if his mind is made up for the rest of his life. That he has found his life’s calling to cook spaghetti every day and every night. That is what is natural to him. Naturalization means, “that one has grown used to an environment that was once shocking.” (Cassegard 83) Nothing really phases him, however, he could not have reached naturalization without having privatization occur first. Privatization is:
The process whereby individuals “become used” to solitude, or—to be more precise—their instinctual needs and fundamental impulses become channeled in such a way that their gratification is made less dependent on relations to other people. The term does not imply that human interaction decreases, but stands for the subjective process whereby such interactions become less important as sources of gratification for individuals. (Cassegard 87) This explains how the protagonist in this story can be conveyed as someone who is lonely, hurt,
David Uedoi
English 100
23 September 2014
A Natural and Privatized life Haruki Murakami, a Japanese writer of short story, The Year of Spaghetti. The depiction of Murakami’s stories with point-of-view narratives provides certain distinctiveness to the characters, depending on how the dialogue is conveyed. The abstract things the narrator says and does provide the idea of human isolation with little feelings of fear. Although the story has no definitive plot, it grabs hold of conflicting emotions between fear and loneliness. The unnamed protagonist in The Year of Spaghetti, illustrates the meaning of loneliness through naturalization and privatization.
According to the Article, Murakami Haruki and the Naturalization of Modernity, “Privatization is the process that makes naturalization possible.” (Cassegard 87) The first paragraph of Haruki’s story, The Year of Spaghetti, already shows how alone and private his life it. He says, “I cooked spaghetti to live, and lived to cook spaghetti.” (pg. 178) It already seems as if his mind is made up for the rest of his life. That he has found his life’s calling to cook spaghetti every day and every night. That is what is natural to him. Naturalization means, “that one has grown used to an environment that was once shocking.” (Cassegard 83) Nothing really phases him, however, he could not have reached naturalization without having privatization occur first. Privatization is:
The process whereby individuals “become used” to solitude, or—to be more precise—their instinctual needs and fundamental impulses become channeled in such a way that their gratification is made less dependent on relations to other people. The term does not imply that human interaction decreases, but stands for the subjective process whereby such interactions become less important as sources of gratification for individuals. (Cassegard 87) This explains how the protagonist in this story can be conveyed as someone who is lonely, hurt,
Cited: Cassegard, Carl. "Murakami Haruki And The Naturalization Of Modernity." International Journal Of Japanese Sociology 10.1 (2001): 80-92. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. DiConsiglio, John. "Haruki Murakami Stinks." Literary Cavalcade 51.4 (1999): 15. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. Murakami, Haruki. "The Year of Spaghetti." (2005): 178-83. Web.