krystal blog post 3

In the readings we’ve done recently, I found Barn Burning the most interesting. The story is also uneasy to understand what Murakami’s trying to deliver and it’s hard to know what exactly does burning the barn symbolize.

I guess the most responsible interpretation is that the female main character’s new boyfriend didn’t actually “burn” the barn. The barn here may imply the girl. In that society, women were considered the plaything of men. No one really cares about them. They are isolated when they are adhered to a man. Therefore, no one will notice if she disappeared. Barn symbolized the forgotten women who have no one to rely on in the society. The “burn” here probably mean to get rid of. That’s being said, in the new boyfriend’s mind, this kind of woman should be eliminated, because they will become useless eventually. So he hooks up with a beautiful girl every two months and gets rid of her when he feels enough. The act of his barn burning represents a kind of morbid mentality which is reflected on the discrimination of women.

I was struck by how cold and ruthless the relation of a man and woman can be. The affection murakami depicted of woman and man is just talking, making love, and drinking bear together. It’s fragile and loveless. The depiction asks the audience to reflect upon the human relationships.