According to the Cambridge dictionary, an excursus is defined as a "discussion or explanation of a subject which is separate from the main subject that is being written or talked about." I find that A Wild Sheep Chase is riddled with these, many of these existential and philosophical in nature. In fact, as I am reading the novel I have marked quotes and there have been at least 1 every 2 pages--at least in my version of the book.
That frequency makes me wonder: maybe these aren’t digressions at all, but part of the novel’s fabric. Still, I lean toward seeing them as departures from the plot. One example is Boku's internal narration regarding taking a long-distance train. He begins by describing it as a "feeling of exhilaration", which quickly descends into a description of being a "dive-bomber caught in a space-time warp" where the reality he resided in not longer felt as it applied to him--as if he is transcending it through his journey (Murakami 76).
One other example, also regarding travel, caught my eye as well. When taking flight with his girlfriend, a description of their "shadows skimming" quickly became Boku stating "we were imprinted into the Earth"(146). Imprinting oneself indicates an effect that exists in perpetuity, as if their shadows were etched into the land following a mere flight to Hokkaido.
As amusing as this may seem at times, it becomes a pattern which I do not know what to make of. Its as if Boku, or Murakami, veers off-course into sweeping declarations about existence. These feelings of questioning one's existence are typically passing, but it seems as if it is a constant for Boku to make these evocative declarations.
Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I'd love to know what you guys think. Did you notice this pattern/trend or was it just me?
Murakami, Haruki. A Wild Sheep Chase. Translated by Alfred Birnbaum, Vintage International, 2002.
No comments:
Post a Comment