Norwegian Wood 2

          Toru Watanabe is said to be lost meaning he does not have a clear goal. Although some might view that as lost, such occasion can be spotted numerously; Toru can be seen as an ordinary teenager’s status. Toru is at the verge of going over to 20, the number that is seen as an ‘adult’. Many teenagers at the age go through confusion; they do not really have a clear goal in life but just drifts away with the environment. Maybe because of this lack of fervor in life, he does not form deep relationships with others. Toru somewhat uses his relationships as the relationship itself is formed for use. Another reason for such personality is that Toru encountered death too early. After his best friend Kizuki’s death, Toru realizes that death is something that is a part of life, not something that is the opposite of life.

           Toru is a medium of the story. The author uses Toru to ask questions to readers. One question is, are we normal as we think? In the story, Toru considers himself as the normal person. However, the author shows that we might think as if we are normal when we might already be in the well of insanity already. Toru also shows the conflict between the teenager and the adult. Toru is confused between the teenager’s role and the adult’s role. Another conflict in Toru is the conflict between two girls. However, the choice can be seen as the choice between in retreating and progressing in life. Naoko symbolizes the depression; she depends on Toru to hold her sanity. On the contrary, Midori symbolizes vitality; she imbues new ideals in Toru making him to progress.