WEEK 3: A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami (6)

 This novel was quite interesting in its depiction of people. Characters never have full names, only nicknames and we see two important characters that are named after animals, those being: “Rat” and “Sheep”. Furthermore, the storytelling and introduction of the sheep is almost reminiscent of Camus’ absurdism. Throughout the book, you don’t quite understand what the sheep is supposed to represent. He was foretold that he would have to find it before Sensei dies, but why exactly? How is he a special sheep? 


That’s the main question we’re pushed to have, as to the audience, the sheep seems to be strangely ubiquitous. In fact, he is first in the advertisement , he is then foretold of a discussion including him, you learn he’s associated to the Sensei in some way and the protagonist is now destined to find him, he later finds “Professor Sheep” and even finds an anthropomorphic sheep telling him to wait for his friend Rat. 


Wherever you go, the sheep seems to be there. When put in parallel with the real world, this sheep seems to be a metaphor for negative emotion, or perhaps even evil. In fact, the sheep is thought to be the Boss’ source of power. He is also associated to Rat’s suicide and even possessed the professor only when in the army; where you’re asked to kill. Rat says the Sheep had evil intentions, when truly, he’s nothing more than an excuse for your negative thoughts.

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