Citation

Wang Q. Revista Argentina de Clinica Psicologica 2020; 29(1): 1082-1086.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020)

DOI

10.24205/03276716.2020.153

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Many believe that it is impossible to truly understand Japan without recognizing the psychological significance of death. This paper aims to disclose the psychological characteristics of the image of death in Japanese cultural and artistic works. The literary work Norwegian Wood, written by famous Japanese author Haruki Murakami, was taken as the object. The death intentions in the novel were summed up, and its psychological features were analysed based on psychological theories like psychology of self and individual psychology. The results show that Norwegian Wood manifests the writers depression in the pursuit of perfection, and reflects the prevailing psychological characteristics of perfectionist in Japanese society; the important figures in the novels commit suicide under the mental pressure in the pursuit of perfection; the longstanding perfectionism in Japan can be attributed to the fierce competitions and the advocation of rules and models. The research provides a novel angle for the appreciation of Japanese cultural and artistic works. © 2020, Fundacion Aigle.

Language: en

Keywords

Psychological characteristics; Haruki murakami; Image of death; Norwegian wood