A Review of "1Q84" by Haruki Murakami - Part 3
The storyline of 1Q84 centers on the main characters being drawn into another realm of existence. It is a realm dominated by "Little People", kami-like beings full of mystery and mischief, and therefore unpredictable and dangerous. As it turns out, life in 1Q84, for Aomame and Tengo (and several other characters besides) proves to be utterly unattractive, offering no relief for the shackles Tengo felt on his soul, as described in Part 2 of this review.
Author Haruki Murakami's storyline taps into a view of reality similar to one found in biblical Christianity. Like 1Q84, the Christian worldview also asserts the existence of a realm that intersects and interacts with the ordinary realm in which we live. Only instead of being ruled by "Little People", the parallel realm of the Christian worldview is under the rule of the living, Creator God, an eternal King over all. In the New Testament book of Matthew, Jesus refers to this realm as "the kingdom of the heavens."
One of the many differences between the operation of the realm of 1Q84 and the kingdom of the heavens is this: in 1Q84, Aomame and Tengo leave this realm to enter into the realm of the Little People; in the biblical account, the kingdom of the heavens penetrates into this realm. In other words, no one leaves this world to encounter the kingdom of the heavens; the kingdom of the heavens comes to us.
Another difference involves the matters of danger and despair. Unlike the world of 1Q84, encounters with the kingdom of the heavens are encounters with blessing, divine reversals of misfortune, and life to the full. All of these, by the way, are promised by Jesus Christ to those who interact with the kingdom of the heavens through him by faith in hm. This is not to say that the biblical worldview offers "escape" from the dangers and daily grind of the physical world. Instead it offers the other-world power and resources of the kingdom of the heavens to cope with life in this realm. It also offers meaning to explain the existence of evil and suffering and make them more bearable. You might say, in its penetration into this realm, the kingdom of the heavens offers sustaining hope and help for people whose lives are racked with weakness, pain, and loss.
One summary of how this works can be found in Matthew 5:1-12, Bible verses otherwise known as The Beatitudes. For example, Matthew 5:5 says: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Meekness would not ordinarily be valued in a world that is as competitive and power-hungry as ours. However, the words of Matthew 5:5 indicate that, in the operation of the kingdom of the heavens here on earth, meekness, not power-mongering, is the path to blessing.
In 1Q84, Tengo and Aomame become obsessed with escaping the realm in which they find themselves and each other. They return in the end to the ordinary realm from which they came, where the deep longings of their hearts will continue to go unmet. By contrast, in the biblical Christian worldview, whenever people live in proper relation to the kingdom of the heavens through faith in Jesus Christ, life in this world not only becomes bearable; it becomes abundantly meaningful and satisfying.
For more on what it means to live in proper relation to the kingdom of the heavens through faith in Jesus Christ, email the Nippon Initiative here.
Click here for Part 1 of this review
Click here for Part 2 of this review
Disclaimer: Although 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami may be useful for gaining insight into modern day Japanese worldview, it contains content that most Christians will find offensive. Therefore, this review should not be construed as a recommendation for the book by the Nippon Initiative.
