21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF "THE BOY NAMED CROW"

BY: Armie Claire Tayag

The boy named crow is an excerption from a novel entitled Kafka on the Shore that is written by a Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer, his books and stories have been bestsellers in Japan as well as internationally. Kafka on the Shore is written on the year 2002 and translated in English on the year 2005. This novel was among "The 10 best books of 2005" from The New York Times. It also received The World Fantasy Award for 2006. The genre of this novel are Magical Realism and Fantasy Fiction. It is Magical Realism because it shows realistic view of the modern world while also adding magical events. Its setting is also in real world that provides the basis for Magical Realism. In the other hand, It is also Fantasy Fiction because it contains unrealistic settings, or magic, often set in a medieval universe, or possibly involving mythical beings or supernatural forms as a primary element of the plot, theme, or setting. The Novel is all about a 15 year old boy named Kafka who is planning to run away from their home. He had an conversation with Crow who gives him an advice to be the toughest 15 year old boy. Crow also warns Kafka that he should face his fate. Crow told Kafka that “Sometimes, fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing direction,You change direction but the sandstorm chases you. This storm is YOU. Something inside you." At first, I didn't get the flow of the story because there is a question in my mind that " Why does it seem like Crow can read the boy’s mind?" so as I understand and interpret more I concluded that Kafka and Crow is one. Crow is the metaphysical alter ego of Kafka. And the story is not just a conversation of Crow that giving advice to Kafka. It is all about Kafka talking to himself before making an decision to leave. It's all about him thinking what life will be have if he leaves. What I learned in this story is to think holistically before we act or make an decision. I also agree on Crow's view about fate. That fate is like a sandstorm that keeps changing its direction but keeps chasing you,because the storm is you. It thought me to face all the problems that will come in my life.