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Book 3, Chapter 18
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
Ushikawa informs Toru that Kumiko is open to talking, but not in person. Instead, Ushikawa proposes that Toru use the computer in the new house, which is known as the Residence, to communicate with Kumiko. Toru expresses concerns about verifying Kumiko’s identity through online communication. In response, Ushikawa suggests that Toru ask Kumiko a question that only she would know the answer to in order to confirm her identity. Ushikawa then requests the password for the computer, but Toru admits that he has never used the computer in the Residence before. Ushikawa gives him instructions on how the computer works, and Toru promises he will try to use it.
Seeing no other way to talk to Kumiko, Toru accepts Ushikawa’s proposal. Still, everything about the proposal is suspicious. If Kumiko is willing to talk to Toru, why can’t she do it in person? Also, it is worth mentioning that home computers were still cutting-edge technology at the time, so it is not surprising that Toru does not know how to use one.
Themes
The computer in the Residence is under Cinnamon’s control. Eventually, Toru manages to guess the password as “Zoo” and gains access to the system. Following Ushikawa’s instructions, Toru initiates Chat Mode so that he can speak to Kumiko.
The computer’s password, “Zoo,” suggests that Nutmeg was correct when she said Cinnamon became obsessed with her stories.
Themes
