완벽함을 표방한 폐쇄적 사회의 환영, 그 이면에 대한 고찰: 무라카미 하루키의 『도시와 그 불확실한 벽』을 중심으로

Abstract

This study aims to explore Haruki Murakami’s The City and Its Uncertain Walls, revealing the message that societies claiming to be the “right place” often distort and erase inconvenient truths to maintain an illusion of perfection, emphasizing the importance of awareness of this reality. Set against the backdrop of Japan’s increasingly closed society after the pandemic, the work published in 2023 elicited mixed critical responses. Some critics argued that it regressed to the detachment characteristic of Murakami’s early works and failed to effectively address pandemic-related themes. However, this study contends that the novel reflects contemporary realities and demonstrates a more mature form of commitment. The imagery of the “city surrounded by high walls,” revised twice and revisited from a current perspective, symbolizes the deepening closure of Japanese society and highlights its dangers. The portrayal of silent city inhabitants metaphorically reflects the public’s tacit acceptance of governmental absurdities. Additionally, this study analyzes how the consolidation of power and concealment of corruption by authorities exacerbate societal closure, suppressing dissenting voices, and seeks to present the social message embedded in the work. Despite these circumstances, Murakami trusts in the “power of storytelling” and stresses the importance of individuals critically reflecting on the world they inhabit. At the same time, through his work, he is believed to convey a message of self-reflection to members of contemporary Japanese society who lack this critical attitude.