Previous
Book 3, Chapter 11
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
According to an article in a magazine, an actress known only as "M" experienced a severe depressive episode following a falling out with her spouse. Insiders believed that her successful film career would come to an end due to this deep depression. Seeking help, M reached out to a psychic (Malta) on the recommendation of a well-known former politician (Noboru).
“M" never gets a proper name in the novel, though her story recalls that of the woman who used to live in the Miyawaki house. Additionally, (if readers assume that the unnamed psychic is Malta and that the unnamed politician is Noboru, which seems likely) this section suggests that Malta could be on Noboru’s side after all, despite Creta’s assurances to the contrary.
Themes
Initially, the psychic (Malta) managed to wean M off antidepressants successfully. However, her symptoms resurfaced later on. When M contacted the psychic again, the psychic told her that she cannot help her because she lost her special powers. Luckily, the psychic introduced M to another individual, who could help her. This person was a man with a distinctive facial mark (Toru), who ultimately cured M of her depression. M’s condition improved significantly, but she kept the details of her treatment a secret.
Presumably, Malta introduced “M” to Toru indirectly because there is no mention of them meeting face-to-face later in the novel. Regardless, it seems Toru’s job is to help cure women—perhaps through sex—though, as always, Murakami leaves things vague. Whatever Toru does, it seems to have a notable real-world effect.
Themes
