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Motifs
Definition of Paradox
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar Wilde's famous declaration that "Life is... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel... read full definition
Key Examples in Kafka on the Shore
Paradox
Explanation and Analysis—Koichi Tamura’s Murder:
Kafka on the Shore is a magical realist novel that contains many inexplicable, paradoxical elements. These paradoxes typically reveal something about the nature of existence, either through their impossibility or their resolution, thereby serving as essential components of the novel’s themes.
Related Themes:
Chapter 13
Explanation and Analysis—Schubert’s Sonata:
Oshima likes to listen to classical music while he drives, particularly Schubert’s piano sonatas. When he first drives Kafka to his cabin in the forest, he plays Schubert’s Sonata in D Major, which he describes as “too long and too pastoral, and technically too simplistic.” The sonata’s dullness motivates performers to add their own elements to the piece in order to give it more character and make it interesting. Thus, every performance of Schubert’s Sonata in D Major is technically an imperfect performance that deviates from the composition. The imperfections, however, are what make the song perfect in Oshima’s estimation, since a “perfect” performance of the piece would be uninteresting. The sonata is, in essence, a blank slate onto which the performer can project some of their self. The sonata constitutes a human perfection that can only be achieved, paradoxically, through imperfection.
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Related Themes:
