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Book 3, Chapter 28
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
One morning, Toru notices that Cinnamon is absent, which is unusual for him. Concerned, Toru tries to reach the Akasaka office, but his calls go unanswered. He then attempts to contact Ushikawa, only to discover that the line is no longer working. These unexpected developments leave Toru feeling bewildered and apprehensive.
Several times already in the novel, Toru has made new acquaintances—only to have them disappear from his life. Here, he worries that the same thing may have happened to Cinnamon and Ushikawa.
Themes
Toru waits for several days but never hears from Cinnamon or Nutmeg. Without them in his life, Toru’s motivation to venture into the well diminishes. The lack of clients also means he won’t be able to afford the expenses associated with the Residence. This realization deepens his sadness as he ponders why Cinnamon and Nutmeg suddenly severed their connections with him.
Here, it seems like Toru’s time at the Residence is coming to an end, and with it, his sense of purpose. To make matters worse, he still has not managed to find out what happened to Kumiko, nor has he uncovered the mysterious woman’s identity.
Themes
