Critical Analysis

The Boy Named Crow

by Haruki Murakami

The story “The Boy Named Crow” that was excerpted from “Kafka on the Shore” is from Japan. It was about Kafka and Crow’s relation talking about Kafka’s plan to run away. The author of the story is Haruki Murakami who known as a contemporary Japanese writer and translator. He was also referred to as one of the world's greatest living novelists by "The Guardian". His books and stories have been best sellers in Japan as well as internationally, with his work being translated into 50 languages and selling millions of copies outside his native country. The story “Kafka on the Shore” is one of the most notable works of Murakami. He has been heavily influenced by Western culture, particularly Western music and literature. The purpose of this story is to give a lesson to the people that running away from the problems won't be a solution because it will chase you until you finally face it.

The story "The Boy Named Crow” is about a fifteen year old boy named Kafka. He wants to see his mother and his sister who was separated when he was a kid, so he decided ,to run away so he could see them. He also wants to run away because he's dreaming to be an independent person and be free from the chains of their home. But his imaginary companion named Crow, asked him if he has the money, needed for his necessities so he is prepared for the outside world after he flee. Crow keeps on asking him on what he had in mind and gave him an advice that fate is something that you can not escape because it will chase even if you run away. Problems won't vanish if you keep on running away therefore, you have to be the world toughest 15 year old in order to face it. But despite of all the things that Crow said, he still chose to run away from his home on his birthday, travel to a far-off town and live in a corner of a small library and be the strongest fifteen year old.

Through this literary piece, Murakami described what fate is like in a metaphorical way, a sandstorm. “Sometimes, fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing direction” , “You change direction but the sandstorm chases you” - from this quoted text of Murakami, it is easy to understand what he's trying to say to his readers without over analyzing his story. It stated there that, we cannot escape from our fate and it should not left behind because it will chase you. You have a responsibility and you have to face and accept it with all yourselves.