Essay Questions

What is the symbolic meaning of insomnia in the story ‘Sleep’?

The narrator in this story is a wife who observes her duties within the homestead. The narrator realizes that marriage denies her an opportunity to do things she used to when she was a single lady. The husband is very strict in whatever he does and to some extent, this limits the narrator's freedom. She is occupied with her duties to the extent that she develops restlessness. However, it is fortunate that her lack of sleep does not come along with sleeplessness complications. Instead of just staying awake, she opts to read as a way of passing time. Therefore, insomnia represents the purposeless of life.

What is the common theme across all the short stories in The Elephant Vanishes?

Human friendliness is the main theme across all the short stories by Murakami. Human connectivity is evident in many stories such as ‘Barn Burning and Slow Boat’ in which the main characters come across strangers and connect well after having a conversation. Most of the stories show the significance of human affection and connectivity. One of the importance of human friendliness is that it cultivates love among the characters. Additionally, whenever one has any problem, it is easy to get assistance from fellow friends and family members because people live in harmony.

What is sarcastic about the title The Elephant Vanishes?

This story talks about the elephant that vanished through mysterious circumstances. According to the narrator, the elephant withered and disappeared from the town. Ironically, a huge animal like an elephant shrinks and vanishes from the town without being noticed by people around it. This irony gives the reader an opportunity to sit back and start imagining how the elephant can wither and vanish from sight. Therefore, the title of this book is satirical because from the beginning it leaves the reader with questions and anxiety to learn what happens next.