Blog Post #2

 Hi all, 

I wanted to use this week's blog post to touch upon a specific scene I really enjoyed within Norwegian Wood. I think that this scene in particular added much to the story, character development, and my overall enjoyment of the work. The scene I am referring to, one I was quite touched by, was the interaction between Toru and Midori's father in the hospital.

As one of my classmates noted during discussion during the past week, throughout much of the novel Toru is often on the receiving end of other characters spouting their life's story and gives the occasional muted, yet deliberate response. Toru's responses are often much shorter than the person's whom he responds to, and in most cases he is much more of a listener than a speaker. However, in his conversation with Midori's father, these roles are reversed. Perhaps it is ironic that the only conversation he is able to dominate is one with someone who is physically incapable of dominating a conversation. Regardless, I thought the way Toru opened up to Midori's father was unlike many of his previous and later conversations, even with people he knew far better and should be able to speak with more openly. I felt as if Midori's father, too, quite enjoyed the conversation he had with Toru. I also greatly appreciate being able to try the coveted "cucumber wrapped in nori dipped in soy sauce" snack that was so tasty to the bedridden cancer patient, because I can't lie I was morbidly curious as to what the fuss was about (thanks professor!). 

I believe that the final line Midori's father says to Toru, that involving Ueno station and taking care of Midori, is far more important to the story than it initially seems. I believe this is the point where Toru decides between Naoko and Midori, exactly when he says he will take care of Ueno station and Midori. Additionally, the hospital interaction plays an important role in the final scene of the novel. This scene takes place in Ueno station, and the final line spoken by any character is Midori's "Where are you?" (The answer, never given by Toru, being Ueno station). I feel that Toru's conversation with Midori's father was foreshadowing for this very event, that the old man somehow knew that Ueno station would play a significant role in the relationship between Toru and his daughter. Perhaps this working class bookstore owner had similar predictive powers to Boku's beautifully eared girlfriend in A Wild Sheep Chase? Overall, I believe this scene was my favorite in the book. It deepened Toru's character by revealing him capable and caring of those around him more than any other scene, and to me was the very scene that determined his resolve, and his future with Midori. 

Thanks for reading!

- Sam Soares