TÓM TẮT TIẾNG ANH: Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).

Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

PHAN THI HUYEN TRANG

SYMBOLS IN HARUKI MURAKAMI’S NOVELS

Major: Foreign literatureCode: 9 22 02 42

SUMMARY OF POSTGRADUATE DISSERTATION

Hanoi, 2021

THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED IN HANOI

PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY SCIENTIFIC INSTRUCTORS:

Scientific supervisor: Prof PhD Le Huy Bac

PhD Dao Thi Thu Hang

Counter-argument 1: Assoc Prof Nguyen Thu Hien

University of Social Sciences and Humanities

Counter-argument 2: Assoc Prof Le Thoi Tan

Hanoi Metropolitan University

Counter-argument 3: Assoc Prof Nguyen Thanh Tu

The Military Arts and Literature Magazine

The dissertation is defensed in the presence of the university-leveldissertation committee, in Hanoi Pedagogical University,at on (date) (month) (year)

Disertations can be explored at:

⁃ Vietnamese National Library

⁃ Hanoi National University of Education Library

1 The reason for choosing the topic

1.1 Japanese literature is one of the oldest and mostaccomplished literature Approaching modern Japanese literature,readers must be familiar with big names associated with traditionalaesthetics such as R Akutakawa, Y Kawabata, Y Mishima,Kenzaburo Oe… These are the representatives of what is called theclassic, epitome of Fusang literature In the above context, the study

of contemporary Japanese literature is essential for the integration ofEast Asian culture in particular and the world literature in general.1.2 After two immortal legends Kawabata and Oe, Japaneseliterature continues to leave its mark with “The literary figure of thetwenty-first century” - Murakami, the writer has blown a new wind,changing the structure and appearance of literature in the world Hiswork has been translated into more than forty languages and is stillbeing translated and published, becoming a global phenomenon.Murakami’s work is a harmonious combination of East and Westculture, touches the problems of humanity’s significance, deepensthe ego, explains, and discovers man in depth Researching andunderstanding of Murakami symbols aims to provide moremultidimensional perspectives on the author and his works This is anecessary job in the context of cultural and literary exchangebetween Vietnam and other countries in the region and in the world.1.3 Symbol is a fertile ground for researchers and today, is stillincreasingly interested in research Learning about symbols is theway to explore the world of human deep souls and mysteries, abridge between national culture and human civilization, between

writers and readers This is also the attraction of Murakami’scompositions, making up the mystery and depth in his work.

Therefore, we worked on the subject of Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novel (Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami).

2 Purpose and mission of the study

Research purposes

Identifying the basic arguments of the concept of literaturesymbols From symbolic theory, we approach, identify and interpretthe system of symbols in Murakami’s novels With the researchresults of the thesis, we hope to provide a more specific view ofsymbol theory and the way of researching symbolic criticism

Identifying and deciphering symbols in Murakami’s novels, thethesis explores and interprets the specialties in the world of symbols

of Murakami, confirms the position and contribution of theMurakami symbol to Japanese and world literature

Surveying, identifying, analyzing and explaining the specifics ofMurakami’s symbolic system, at the same time pointing outMurakami’s content and ideological values

3 Object, scope of study and theory of symbol

3.1 Object of research: The thesis explores symbols inMurakami novels focusing on three typical symbols: nature symbols,object symbols, animal symbols

3.2 Scope of research: The thesis researches symbols in

Murakami’s novels, including: Norwegian Wood, Wind-up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on The Shore, Sputnik Sweetheart, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, Jump, Jump, Jump, 1Q84, South of the Border, West of the Sun, A Wild Sheep Chase, Colorless Tazaki Tsukuru and Years of Pilgrimage.

3.3 Concept “Symbols”

According to the English Dictionary, the symbol is: 1.

Representative images; 2 Awareness is higher than feeling, gives usthe image of the item saved in mind after the object having no effect

on our senses In Cultural Studies, symbol is considered to be “the

language of any senses”, is the “sign exposed to public awareness”

Dictionary of literary terms gives the concept: “Symbol is the life

reflected by the characteristic images of literary art In the long term,symbols are a convert method of words or a special type of the artsthat is inspirational and also expresses the quality of any profoundconcept, idea or philosophy of life and people” Thus, according tothe defination, symbol is one means to distinguish between metaphorand metonymy

In the framework of the thesis, we do not go into depth researchsymbols in a broad sense as well as do not analyze what is true /false, reasonable / unreasonable in the ways of definition and definethe symbolic conceptual connotation but we will focus on literarysymbols scope, and will exploit symbols in the direction ofparticular symbols, the form of using these images to expresssomething that is conceptual and high-minded, a specific image

representing an abstract idea We focus on the symbols of Murakami

in three groups: nature group, object group, and animal group

5 Contributions of the thesis

The thesis is an in-depth research work on symbols in Murakaminovels Research methodology and the dissertation’s results will bethe basis for a comprehensive study of the symbols in all Murakamicompositions (both novels and short stories)

Systematizing some basic features of symbols in the novels ofMurakami, showing the content values through that symbol system The thesis provides an additional approach to the novels ofMurakami Researching the works from symbolic theory is an opendirection and promises a way to approach the work of other authors

CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH OBJECT

1.1 Studying Murakami novels

1.1.1 In foreign countries

Overseas research and criticism of Murakami novels is quiteexciting, in the documents that we have collected, we classify them

according to the research directions, including: Biographicalcriticism (Jay’s works Rubin, Megumi Yama, Jonathan Ellis, MitokoHirabayashi, Miller Laura), Sociological Critique (works by ChiakiTakagi, Bridget Sellers, Jiwoon Baik), Postmodern Criticism (works

by Deirdre Flynn, Matthew C Strecher, Yoshio Iwamoto), TopicCriticism (works by Matthew Whelihan, Williams Mukesh, MatthewStrecher, Toshi Kawai), Comparative Studies (works by MaiaBrown-Jackson, Ida Mayer, John Updike, Justine McConnell, EdithHall, Mirjam Büttner, Naomi Matsuoka, Brian Seemann, Kim deWilligen, Naomi Matsuoka), Self-Study Criticism (works by TiffanyHong, Will Slocombe, Welch Patricia, Virginia Yeung, Jay Rubin,Gareth Edward, Masatsugu Ono) However, there are no works thatdirectly study Murakami symbols like the direction of the topic that

we exploit

1.1.2 In Vietnam

Murakami is not unfamiliar to Vietnamese readers in the past

20 years The study of Murakami in Vietnamese (written andtranslated) focuses on the following areas: Postmodern criticism (theworks of Dao Thi Thu Hang, Nguyen Bich Nha Truc, Ngo Tra Mi,Tran Thi To Loan, Le Thi Diem Hang), Topic Criticism (the works

of Tran Tien Cao Dang, Pham Xuan Nguyen, Nguyen Hoai Nam,Nguyen Anh Dan), Criticism of Autobiography (the works of NhatChieu, Ngo Tra Mi, Le Nguyen Can), Comparative Study (the works

of Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, Nguyen Thi Mai Lien, Nguyen Thi KimNgan, Ngo Viet Hoan) In addition to studies on the influence offolklore on Murakami novels, in Vietnam, there are also works

written about the impact of Japanese and international authors of theprevious generations and at the same time as the writer Thesestudies show that the interest of Vietnamese scientists to Murakami

or analyzed some specific symbols (articles by Heather H Yeung,Matthew Strecher, Djakaria), but in general, the system of symbolicstudies of Murakami novels is still open

1.2.2 In Vietnam

The problem of symbol in Murakami’s compositions ismentioned in many articles (notably those by Nguyen Anh Dan,Nguyen Bich Nha Truc), but there is no remarkable research workyet that systematically analyzes the symbols in depth

Sub-conclusion: Looking at the research, we realize that

although Vietnamese researchers have not systematically focused onexamining Murakami’s symbols, the survey and interpretation ofbasic symbols in Murakami novels are very important suggestionsfor us to use as a basis to implement the subject

CHAPTER 2 NATURAL SYMBOLS IN MURAKAMI NOVELS

Natural symbols in Murakami’s novels are quite diverse,

appearing densely and playing an important role in the development

of the story, and also is an environment for the characters to clearlyreveal the inner world In this thesis, we focus on clarifying thesymbols of nature with three main groups of symbols: light andshadow; land and forest; water and variations

2.1 The symbols “light” and “shadow”

Light and darkness are opposing and irreconcilable realities.Where there is a stronger light, the darkness must go away; Wherethere is darkness, the light must give way “Light is associated withdarkness, to represent complementary or alternating values in atransformation process”; “The light follows the darkness, in theorder of manifesting the universe as well as in the order of innerrevelation Light and shadow, more generally speaking, are acommon aspect precisely expressed by the parallel of yin and yang[ ] Earth means darkness, heaven means light” Light - darkness is

a pair of words representing many areas of life: holy sin; harmony division; love - hatred; wisdom - wild

-2.1.1 “Light”: The symbol of life and conscience; beauty and goodness

The light in the novels of Murakami is a symbol of source of lifeand conscience If sunlight represents human might, fears, andhopes, it also does not appear to be immutable data It can disappearand life will disappear But if the sunlight dies every night, it isrevived in the morning again and man, considering his fate like that

of light, has gained hope and faith in the timelessness of life and ofhuman strength The symbol of light is expressed through themeaning of hope, which is awareness, enlightenment, revelation,

salvation, “awakening of hope is the desire of love”, a symbol ofeternal love, the desire to live in perfect happiness, associated withthe psychological memory that each character must fight fiercely tofight with themself.

2.1.2 “Darkness”: Symbol of pain and deadlock and evil

Darkness follows light, in the order of manifesting the universe

as well as in the order of inner revelation The duality of the darkand light elements is considered a familiar phenomenon of culturesaround the world This is also the symbolic meaning of somemiraculous experience: the other side of the light is darkness, andbeyond darkness comes light

In Murakami’s work, this duality is inherited and used as anartistic mark Darkness in his novels has the symbolic meaning offear, depression, trauma, pain both physically and mentally, and thebottlenecks in the life of the main character Murakami’s novels are

a world of unhappy lives, carrying tragedy or a feeling of tragedy It

is a world of darkness, filled with suffering, loss Darkness is also

a symbol of evil, violence, beastliness, meaninglessness

2.2 The symbols of “land” and “forest”

2.2.1 “Earth”: A symbol of death and destruction

“The land” in Murakami’s novels bears little signs of life,fertility, but is associated with death, destruction The dead land isnot only a symbol of the stagnant and circulating life of modernpeople, but also a land of internal death, of a spiritual stalemate,unconnected and lack of sharing To revive the dead land, theMurakami character must actively participate in the journey offinding solutions, or even searching for new lands, the underworld,

and at the same time, through that journey of searching, they seektheir own ego.

2.2.2 “Forest”: The symbol of tolerance and the production of evil

As a continuation of the ancient consciousness, the forest inMurakami novels is not only a symbol of “fear of the forest” but also

a symbol of death, an environment that contains and produces evil,and a symbol of the inner world - “the dark part of our mind” Thejourney towards the heart of the forest is the journey straight to themind, into the dark subconscious of the character in order to face thefear as well as “restore the ego” that is slowly dissipating withinthem

2.3 Symbol of “water” and variations

2.3.1 Visible “water” - symbol of purification and rebirth

The symbolic meaning of water often revolves around threemain themes: “water - the source of life, water - the means ofpurification, and water - the birth center” These are three topics thatare frequently mentioned in ancient legends, thereby forming layers

of sustainable meanings Along with its purifying properties, wateralso carries in it the power of regeneration, the power of immortality.That power lurks under the subconscious and is an amorphous force

of the soul For Murakami, the symbol of water is often transformed

by him into adaptations such as rain, river, stream, sea with themeaning of “a purification tool”, effectively erasing all mistakes, allblemishes in the action and the soul of the characters

2.3.2 Invisible “water” - symbol of healing energy

As a variation of the water-based sample, the flow symbol inMurakami novels on the one hand has the common symbolicmeanings of water, on the other hand has its own symbolicdirections attached to its essence Reincarnated in Murakami’snovel, this symbol both permeates the common senses of theunconscious community and also bears the mark of the author’sstyle, expressing the transformation, adjustment and dynamism ofthe symbol In Murakami novels, flow first of all has the meaning ofthe flow of life, each person’s destiny, and a source of energy, thenatural flow of spirit It is the connection, sharing and empathybetween lonely individuals in the community and in each smallfamily This flow creates an essential energy source for each of us,nurturing not only the rich but also extremely mysterious andcomplex world of souls If the flow stops, or is blocked, it will createevents and tragedies for everyone’s life.

Sub-conclusion: The symbol of nature (light, darkness, forest,

land, water ) is a unique type of symbol that appears in Murakami'snovels The writer not only regenerate the original models but alsotransform them, so that they are compatible with the mind, with theperception of meaning in the life of postmodern people Eachsymbol seems to carry in it a duality, associated with positive andnegative properties: life, enlightenment of awareness, love, source ofdeath, fear, evil attached with the character’s experiences,emotions, memories in the journey to find his own self This dualitywas inherited by Murakami and used as an artistic identity Inparticular, the natural symbols in Murakami’s novels contributes todescribing the inner world - the unconscious of people The writer

has skillfully and creatively applied the nuances of meaning of thenatural symbols to highlight the power, the mystery, the complexity,the impossibility of that world.

CHAPTER 3 OBJECT SYMBOL IN MURAKAMI’S NOVELS

Murakami is one of the masters of using symbolic objects.Under the nib of his pen, objects appear as multifaceted symbols,conveying many profound meanings and unique human philosophy

of the writer

3.1 Symbol of “Mirror”

Mirror sticking to human life, it becomes a familiar symbol inthe writing of many writers around the world The symbol “mirror”appears many times in Murakami works, and is an important artisticelement, contributing to convey the message of the writer Themirror symbol is the inheritance, continuation of the flow of humanculture and literature, but it is also a creative inheritance, blown into

it by the writer’s spirit of the times, contributing to bringing his ownbeauty onto writing pages

3.1.1 “Mirror”: Symbol of “truth”

Male or female characters in Murakami novels love to look inthe mirror Mirrors appear in most of the major events that occur intheir lives, each time the character has to face an inner struggle or toembark on a journey of commitment to self-change For Murakami,

“mirror” is a symbol of truth, authenticity Mirrors with the feature

of reflecting rays of light, reflecting objects as they are, not onlyhelp the character see the reflection of their face, their appearance