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Book 3, Chapter 9
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Reality and Subjective Experience
Free Will
Desire and Irrationality
The Personal Impact of War
Social Alienation
Summary
Analysis
May sends Toru another letter talking about her current employment at a wig manufacturing facility. Although she finds the physical work satisfying, she feels detached from her female colleagues, as they primarily view their time at the factory as temporary until they marry and embark on a new chapter in their lives. May realizes that she does not want what other girls her age desire, which makes it hard for her to connect with them.
Again, May must contend with her feelings of social inadequacy and isolation. The fact that she feels the need to reach out to Toru, who played a relatively minor role in her life, demonstrates just how alone she feels.
Themes
