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Book 3, Chapter 23
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
Nutmeg visits Toru at the Residence and informs him about the second article in the ongoing series about the “Mystery of the Hanging House.” She expresses her concern that someone may discover their activities within the Residence. Worried about potential consequences, Nutmeg raises the issue of Noboru and asks Toru about his relationship with him. Toru confirms that Noboru is, in fact, his estranged brother-in-law.
Nutmeg’s fear that someone might discover what is going on at the Residence suggests that what they are doing is either illegal or frowned upon.
Themes
Nutmeg raises a valid point about the potential violation of privacy for their clients due to Toru’s investigation into the Residence. She worries about what this means for the future of their business, as well as the wellbeing of their clients. She admits to Toru that everything in her life—and in the world at large—feels predetermined to her. Nonetheless, she feels a responsibility to her clients to do what is in their best interest. Due to concerns about security breaches, Nutmeg has Cinnamon cancel all upcoming appointments.
The potential end of the Residence signals a problem for Toru. After all, it is through the Residence that he found a purpose in life, which he largely enjoys. Additionally, if the Residence goes away, he will no longer have the well at his disposal. At this point, he still has not figured out the identity of the mysterious woman, and it seems like he’s running out of time.
Themes
