Kafka on the Shore: Logos 2 key examples

Johnnie Walker is a mysterious being who operates on a different plane of reality than the novel’s human characters. The logic that governs his actions is inscrutable and seemingly incontrovertible. The role he plays is greater than he is, and he speaks with a confidence that arises from his knowledge of that logic. In order to persuade the characters that he wishes to influence, he speaks as a being on a higher plane who knows with absolute assurance what is and what isn’t. Although the rules that govern his existence are beyond human knowledge, he still acts according to logical principles. When Johnnie Walker convinces Nakata to kill him, he uses logical reasoning to explain why Nakata doing the job is the only option and why his method will work:

And I’ve had it! Nobody respects what I’m doing, it doesn’t make anybody happy. But the whole thing’s all fixed already. I can’t just suddenly say I quit and stop what I’m doing. And taking my own life isn’t an option. That’s already been decided too. There’re all sorts of rules involved. If I want to die, I have to get somebody else to kill me. That’s where you come in. I want you to fear me, to hate me with a passion—and then terminate me. First you fear me. Then you hate me. And finally you kill me.

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Oshima is a highly literate, erudite individual who prefers to rely on logical reasoning in any situation, although he does not discount the importance of emotion. When two representatives from a women’s organization arrive at the library to critique it on the grounds of sexism, Oshima skeptically responds that there are better uses of their time. During their exchange, Oshima proves to be highly competent rhetorically and presents a number of logical arguments as to why their complaints are trivial:

Look, what I’m trying to get across is this: I’m sure there are many more effective ways of making sure that Japanese women’s rights are guaranteed than sniffing around a small library in a little town and complaining about the restrooms and the card catalog. We’re doing our level best to see that this modest library of ours helps the community. We’ve assembled an outstanding collection for people who love books. And we do our utmost to put a human face on all our dealings with the public.

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Oshima is a highly literate, erudite individual who prefers to rely on logical reasoning in any situation, although he does not discount the importance of emotion. When two representatives from a women’s organization arrive at the library to critique it on the grounds of sexism, Oshima skeptically responds that there are better uses of their time. During their exchange, Oshima proves to be highly competent rhetorically and presents a number of logical arguments as to why their complaints are trivial:

Look, what I’m trying to get across is this: I’m sure there are many more effective ways of making sure that Japanese women’s rights are guaranteed than sniffing around a small library in a little town and complaining about the restrooms and the card catalog. We’re doing our level best to see that this modest library of ours helps the community. We’ve assembled an outstanding collection for people who love books. And we do our utmost to put a human face on all our dealings with the public.

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