The (Re)construction of Identity in Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore

Abstract

When Japan finally steps forward to build a new nation after its massive losses because of the two World Wars, the country had not only to deal with the major economic recession but also with its society. The various changes the Japanese have lived since the end of Edo period: an era that is characterized by a sense of isolation and a limited contact with the Western world made them forget their traditional principles and stick to the concept of collectivism to construct their identities. Now, despite the national stability the society is enjoying, the Japanese young adult struggles daily with social and psychological factors to build his identity. Under such circumstances, Haruki Murakami is one of the best writers who concerns himself in tackling expecially the issue of identity in depth especially in his novel Kafka on the Shore (2005). For this reason, this study aims to examine the issue of identity construction from a psychological perspective. Its objective is to explore the impact of the psychological factors: Oedipus complex, dreams interpretation and trauma in building and destroying the protagonists’ personalities. It also purses to shed light on the necessity of healing the human internal flaws to have a healthy soul.