The Writer

Murakami introduces his protagonist, a writer with no name. It is unclear why the author chose to give the writer no name except perhaps to make him more identifiable as an "everyman." The man is fairly typical. He is age 34, once divorced, and working as a freelance writer. Like most people his age, the man has had his share of pitfalls. He has suffered from depression on occasion, once so severe that he became a recluse for six months. Although the writer managed to pull himself out of the abyss, there is still a sense of abandonment from his wife and loss of former business, friendships, and romantic relationships.

The writer's background is revealed. He had fallen into a deep depression after getting a divorce and having a friend die mysteriously. A woman abandoned him. The result was a six-month stint in his apartment during which he...