Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Tale for the Time Being, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Time, Impermanence, and the Present
The Difficulty of Communication
Life vs. Death
Coincidences and Connections
Sexual Perversion and Violence
Summary
Analysis
December 10, 1943. In Haruki #1’s first letter, he wrote to Jiko that although it had just been a week since he left to the navy airbase, he’s changed so much that Jiko might not recognize him if she passed him on the street.
Haruki #1’s first letter stated that he looked different—and it hinted that he felt different, as well. This suggests that life in the military had a deeply transformative effect on Haruki #1—it changed him inside and out.
Themes
January 2, 1944. In Haruki #1’s second letter, he wrote that when he found out that students were no longer exempt from being conscripted, he immediately knew that he would die. At this, he felt somewhat relieved, since he’d spent many months not knowing. Now, certainty, even if it meant knowing that he would die, felt exciting.
Haruki #1’s ideas in this letter were similar to what Haruki wrote in his letter to Dr. Leistiko about death giving life shape and meaning. Haruki #1 finds comfort in certainty after spending many anxious months wondering about his fate.
Themes
Haruki #1 recalled that Jiko had cried when she found out he’d have to join the army, which had irritated him. He’d asked her to pull herself together. Haruki #1 wrote that he regretted this, and he explained that he’d behaved this way out of fear and a desire to distract himself from his own heartbreak.
Haruki #1 admitted that an extreme sadness at his impending death accompanied his relief about knowing his fate. Though he found it hard to admit this to Jiko before, he did ultimately confessed his grief to her. Haruki #1, much like Nao, saw Jiko as his confidante.
Themes
February 23, 1944. In Haruki #1’s next letter, he wrote that his squadron leader, F, and the other senior officers considered the student recruits to be pretentious and singled them out for “special exercises.” Haruki #1 was targeted by the officers, but a fellow recruit called K, who was “a true philosopher,” was treated even worse.
The officers found Haruki #1 and K to be different and perceived them to be outsiders, which is why the officers disliked them and beat them up. Similarly, Nao’s classmates saw her as an outsider to Japanese culture, which is why they bullied her.
Themes
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February 26, 1944. In his fourth letter, Haruki #1 wrote that he was doing well in his training and advancing in rank and status. He said that he became concerned about K and volunteered to take his place during a training session. Since then, F had been showering Haruki #1 with special attention.
Haruki #1 was clearly a kind and honorable man: he helped his friend K, even when he himself was getting brutally bullied. This is a complete contrast to how Nao treated Daisuke; it shows that Haruki #1 was more mature and emotionally resilient than Nao.
Themes
April 14, 1944. In Haruki #1’s next letter, he said that since he was now F’s favorite, he was singled out for special treatment in F’s post-dinner games. While the others in the squadron sometimes laughed at these games, K never laughed and watched quietly.
Haruki #1 willingly took K’s place so that K would not be tortured, but K seemed to suffer more from watching Haruki #1 being tortured instead of him. This speaks to the depth of their friendship—they seemingly understood each other without talking.
Themes
June 16, 1944. In his next letter, Haruki #1 wrote that he was very excited that Jiko would be visiting him soon. He also wrote that K disappeared, and the officers then informed the squadron that he was found dead. Haruki #1 suspected that there might have been foul play, and he felt very sad.
It’s implied that K was murdered by the officers, which was, of course, very disturbing to Haruki #1. Much as Haruki #1 tried to protect his friend, he couldn’t prevent this tragedy from happening.
Themes
August 3, 1944. In the next letter, Haruki #1 wrote that he was very happy to see Jiko and his sisters. He recalled Jiko’s shocked expression when she saw him, and he apologized for preparing her for the change in his appearance and his cut and bruised face. Haruki #1 told her that these wounds were normal aspects of military life.
Even though Jiko expected to see changes in Haruki #1, she was shocked by his wounds and bruises. Perhaps, for Jiko, Haruki #1’s cuts and bruises are a tangible reminder that her son is going to suffer and die in the war. Haruki #1 attempted to explain these away as the typical injuries from military training, which, of course, was not true. This is similar to how Nao tried to explain away her own cuts and bruises to Tomoko.
Themes
December 1944. In the next letter, Haruki #1 wrote that he had volunteered to be a Special Attack Force (or kamikaze) pilot. He asked Jiko to forgive him and begged her to understand why he did this. One reason Haruki #1 chose this was because it would leave Jiko with a higher pension after his death, and he liked the idea of being useful to Jiko and his sisters. Secondly, he would now have more control over his death, since he knew he would certainly die in the war. Haruki #1 would know the exact moment his death would occur, rather than dying randomly on a battlefield.
Haruki #1 was certain that he would die in battle, so he came to terms with it. He preferred having a choice in the manner of his death, as this gave him a small degree of control over his life, which had spun completely out of control.
Themes
March 27, 1945. In his final letter, Haruki #1 wrote that he was reading poetry and novels as he prepared for his death. He said that during a test flight, he was reminded of the children’s story, the “Crow Wars,” and he felt like the Crow Captain flying off to wage battle. Haruki #1 loved to fly—it gave him as much pleasure as sitting zazen. He concluded the letter by saying that Jiko would receive another “official” letter from him, but that those would not be his last words.
Haruki #1 mentioned feeling like the “Crow Captain,” a character in a children’s story, and said that he loved flying. This suggests that his spirit might have returned to the world as the Japanese Jungle Crow that hangs around Ruth’s house. Haruki #1 also said that the final letter Jiko would receive would not be his last words, which hinted at the existence of his secret French diary. Even if Jiko understood his meaning, she would not have been able to get her hands on the secret diary.
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