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Murakami Sees Bright Strength in “Sad” Translated US Classic Novel

INTRODUCTION

The internationally acclaimed novelist Haruki Murakami, who recently translated the 1940 American classic "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," by Carson McCullers, recently spoke about the book's meaning to him, as well as the import of its message about racism and poverty against the backdrop of recent social protests.

1st BODY PARAGRAPH

McCullers, born in 1917 in the southern state of Georgia in the United States, had initially sought to become a pianist but later turned to writing, learning her craft while working at other jobs.

2nd BODY PARAGRAPH

The story takes place in a town in the Deep South in the late 1930s, where a black doctor fighting discrimination and an anarchist indignant at capitalism are confronted with society's lack of understanding. A young girl who carries a secret world in her heart and a cafe owner who harbors an affection for her both find it impossible to express their innermost feelings. A deaf-mute man, who wordlessly listens as others bring him their stories of hardships, is ultimately overwhelmed by hopelessness.

3rd BODY PARAGRAPH

Murakami read McCullers' book as a 20-year-old, during the period when student movements were roiling most of the world in the late 1960s and 1970s. While he was not put off by the politically charged nature of the novel, he kept his distance from the movements, unlike his peers. A book lover who placed great importance on individualism, he felt a kinship with the protagonists of "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," who also had difficulty fostering connections with others. We believed at the time that if we did our best, the world would become a better place," said Murakami, referring to his younger days. "But that didn't happen. The gap between the rich and poor has only grown. If we were to ask young people now, 'Do you think that the world will get better?', I think that almost no one would respond 'Yes,'" he said.

4th BODY PARAGRAPH

"'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter' is a story. It does not say there is hope. On the contrary, the book ends in a way where only despair can prevail, but even so it leaves the readers with something bright in their hearts. I wanted to believe in the story's strength, translate it and send it forth as a book," he said. "For a long time I thought that all that a novelist had to do was write novels," he said. But his belief changed as he got older. He emphasized that translating others' works has played a large role in developing his writing skills. "I learned a lot of important things through translating numerous books written in English. And I continue to learn. It is my greatest joy to have finished translating this important book that I am so attached to," he said. He said he is waiting to see how young readers will react to a story which had so impressed him.

THE FEATURES

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Source : https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/10/03/murakami-sees-bright-strength-in-sad-translated-us-classic-novel.html