Episode 32 - The Ending of Norwegian Wood Explained

Looks like some readers cannot wrap their head around the ending of 'Norwegian Woods' the popular novel by Haruki Murakami. So we explain it - with two possible interpretations.
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[@karandeepsingh-jk3im]

For me ending was a little different. Just like when Kizuki died, Naoko went into depression and only Toru Watanabe was the only one who could have saved her but he couldn't. Now Naoko is dead, and for Toru only Midori can save him from this dark place where Kizuki and Naoko had lost their lives. So now Midori will become what Toru was for Naoko and what Naoko was for Kizuki. In the end it will be an endless cycle, if Midori is unable to save him. (Since he is 37 now, we assume Midori did save him.) :)

[@abstractaf]

Sure. That's another way to look at it :)

[@novel5407]

Yeah .. like it referred to the scene in the beginning where Naoko kept walking until she realised that she didn't know where she was ... Now Toru is going through the same thing and things which happened with Naoko may repeat themselves but this time with Toru...and they will keep going on in circles..

[@Enhafun]

Damn so the cycle continues

[@hem94_]

But since he survived, that mean the cycle has ended… bcz Toru unlike kizuki and Naoko opened up to him and didn’t let her go like they did to him and he finally focused on the living cuz he said you are all i want from this world and before that he says life and death are not separate and death is a part of this life and world… so he let them both go and kept living :))

[@notarmchairhistorian7779]

I prefer to think that they did end up with each other. That's just so closure for me.

[@seonaanntom3751]

I think Toru called Midori when he was 37 at the airport....When he reached airport and then all his memories are back and he is stuck in his 20s...... Suddenly he may have an urge to call Midori and to start a new life.....And it was when Midori asked him where he was .....he realized that he was in his fantasy all these years. ......He had not reached anywhere but was in the middle of a bunch of unknown people .Then he relised that he had no one expect Midori....that is why he called HER from the dead centre or his empty heart......Midori was always a girl of life and breath..... and lets hope he began a new life with Midori

[@butterscotch_695]

WOAH, that's an interesting interpretation

[@seonaanntom3751]

@@butterscotch_695 ♥♥♥

[@danemarksoliveres2979]

I have the same idea hehe

[@seonaanntom3751]

@@danemarksoliveres2979 that's great ❤️

[@azwadenam7057]

This makes more sense ❤️

[@aryamalkar7205]

I completed reading the book few days ago. literally can't get over all the emotions and feelings I felt. for me either toru called midori after the departure of reiko and they ended up together. or In the present when he is 37 he is still with midori but he got drenched in all the memories of his college days and again he realised how important midori is for him since she saved him after naoko died. he calls her again and says words like "all I want in this world is you" and she know that they are together and everything is fine but cause he says things like this she asks him where he is now just too make sure he is safely landed in hamburg or whatever. I just want to make myself belive that he ended up with midori and is actually happy in his life.

[@aryamalkar7205]

@Astro boii truth!

[@Victoria-el5cr]

The ending did nothing to me i was so hurt when he slept with Reiko like why??? i felt so bad for Midori..

[@hiteshsharma2861]

At the end i think he had become like nagasawki 😢

[@seethe-]

He was finally able to sleep with another woman besides Naoko. That's how he left his past behind, he did it with the help Reiko. And at the same time he helped Reiko to leave her past behind. Both of them took a new step for a brighter future. He is now able to get together with Midori with a clear mind. It makes the ending wonderful and perfect.

[@shrijitasengupta9888]

I definitely go with the narrative that Toru has entered the same phase as Naoko had but this time he will be breaking the loop. Why? Because Naoko had always loved Kizuki and never could get over him, what he shared with Toru was due him being the last human memory of Kizuki, this same reason applies why Toru and Rieko slept together. While Midori was a person who came into Toru's life having no connection with his past whatsoever and was a complete opposite of Toru(and Naoko). Midori is the only person who dares and has the strength to choose light inspite of life's ( and death) harshness. So, Toru really falls for her slowly and deeply, it's only after those two months he realises Midori's presence in his life. However, he has gone through the same thing as Naoko so that deep responsibility of what Kizuki left behind, he could have never turned down. I believe Midori's "Life is a box of chocolates" philosophy will eventually dominate over Toru because he is a highly influentiable man( For instance: Storm Trooper's cleanliness is now his habit, temporarily he had got Nagasawa's habits as well)

[@milanmiric5534]

OK I love this interpretation. Thank You. Wonderfully put.

[@ayeshafirdaus4318]

this is the best interpretation i've read omg

[@mahimap6870]

In the first chapter Toru remembers him and Naoko walking through a field talking about a well whose whereabouts nobody knows about. And Naoko says that people disappear by falling into that well all the time and "its crammed full of darkness as if all the worlds darknesses had been boiled down to their ultimate intensity". She also tells Toru that she's certain that none of them will fall into the well if they stick together which could be symbolic to Naokos state of mind after kizukis passing away and her faith that Toru could save her from sinking into those dark depths. Naoko tells Toru that once u fall into the well no one can hear or find you "you'd have centipedes and spider's crawling all around you and the bones of the ones who died before you are scattered all around you". But in the end Toru failed to save Naoko from falling into those depths of darkness. And after Naokos death Toru had no one to save him from falling into the well either. He also mentions listening to echoes while writing about Naoko which could mean that Toru has not completely healed from Naokos death. We can hope Midori saved him if he did not abandon Midori like he abandoned the girl he met after kizukis death. He held back from sleeping with Midori for Naoko but slept with Reiko without a thought of Midori which makes me doubt if he was genuinely in love with Midori or she was just his escape from the darkness that Naoko left him vulnerable to. And if Midori failed to save her. Maybe the first chapter is the beginning of Toru spiralling down to the depths where Naoko and kizuki await him. Just my interpretation... although I find the first chapter a beautiful summarisation of the emotional state of both the characters.

[@aaryawn]

I thought of sleeping with Reiko was his way of connecting to Naoko, keeping some elements of Naoko close to him, a last glance of Naoko, and a farewell/funeral to Naoko. No wonder Midori symbolised his escape from darkness or maybe a lens to a life where he could exist in peace. But I think that was not the only thing with Midori, the way he saw/thought about Midori and the way he felt around her was nothing less than pure love he had for her. Or maybe love with Midori was the only thing that helped him not slip in that well?

[@ShreyaPalak]

Thoughts interpreted so beautifully.... I myself believe something like this... N this touched me to the core. 🦋💗🪄🥀🧿❤✨

[@ritiksinha7078]

Breakdown 1 - The Last paragraph could be probably from the present timeline (1987) Toru must've have been overwhelmed by Reminiscencing the entire story and out of comfort he called Midori for her well being to which Midori replies 'Where are you now?' Breakdown 2 - Toru calls Midori right after Reiko's departure and as he clearly knows that he can't comprehend the loss of Naoko alone and needs Midori to help him . To help him when he's most vulnerable. He wants to break the loop . Breakdown 3 - It's happening just like the last Time , when kizukie died . After the death of his only friend , he made a girlfriend just to forget the reality surrounding him . This time too , After Naoko's death , he's trying to get a girlfriend (Midori) to take him out from the misery of his reality . Does he really love her , we don't know Did he re loved that previous girl , we don't know As nagasawa said - Is he incapable of loving, we don't know . He left his first girlfriend when he was moving to Tokyo Will he leave Midori, when he'll move out to work ?

[@Sakuta3220]

It could be that the loop started from Naoko's sister who also died then the loop went on Kizuki then Naoko and now probably Toru but Midori has now probably broken the loop as Toru is now 37

[@shubhamk3013]

Any idea on which drugs he's was on when he written the last phrase?

[@anusharajbanshi6273]

I interpreted it as in the end after kizuki left. he did suicide & then he thought he called midori forgetting his own death. But when she raised the question where he is? He realised he is nowhere.

[@amber7719]

toru was 37 when he recalled the story. so i guess midori had successfully saved him and broke the ‘cycle’. :)

[@Dali-tg2xr]

That is exactly what I thought! I think the place that was no place was the realization that he had so many years of untreated depression and avoidance and he was finally able to open up but it was so overwhelming he got confused. Because in all honesty he never talked about what had happened, he lied about it or didn't mention it and the only people that knew were Naoko and reiko [because Naoko told her]. I do think that Midori and Toru end up together because when describing other characters in the book he says when it was the last time he saw them or the last interaction he had with them. They all get a conclusion. With reiko and midori there is no such conclusion so you can assume that he still writes to reiko (as he promised he would the last time they were together) and is still with midori. Another clue is that although he doesn't remember well Naoko or what her face looked like; he seems to recall midori very well and never hints at forgetting her or forgetting moments or conversations he had with her. What do you think?

[@seethe-]

Option 1 is the only answer! He was finally able to sleep with another woman besides Naoko. That's how he left his past behind, he did it with the help of Reiko. And at the same time he helped Reiko to leave her past behind. Both of them took a new step for a brighter future. After Reikos departure he is now able to get together with Midori with a clear mind. When he calls her he becomes overwhelmed by his feelings resulting in in him to be disoriented and alienated by the people around him. Which reminds me of following scene: ''I twisted open the lid of the jar and took the firefly out, setting it on the two-inch lip of the water tank. It seemed not to grasp its new surroundings. It hobbled around the head of a steel bolt, catching its legs on curling scabs of paint. It moved to the right until it found its way blocked, then circled back to the left. Finally, with some effort, it mounted the head of the bolt and crouched there for a while, unmoving, as if it had taken its last breath. Still leaning against the handrail, I studied the firefly. Neither I nor it made a move for a very long time. The wind continued sweeping past the two of us while the numberless leaves of the zelkova tree rustled in the darkness. I waited forever. Only much later did the firefly take to the air. As if some thought had suddenly come to it, the firefly spread its wings, and in a moment it had flown past the handrail to float in the pale darkness. It traced a swift arc by the side of the water tank as if trying to bring back a lost interval in time. And then, after hovering there for a few seconds as if to watch its curved line of light blend into the wind, it finally flew off to the east.'' Option 2 makes no sense! Okay let's assume Toru is in fact 37 years old in Hamburg and is calling Midori..... how the fuck does he have her number ? ? ? And how weird would it be for him after 17 years finally wanting to be with her + Midoris response with that 17 years time gap wouldnt make any sense. The only thing open for interpretation, is if Midori and Toru got back together after the phone call. In my opinion they certainly did because Midori always loved him that's a fact. Toru at this point in time is finally leaving his past behind and also tells her ''All I want in this world is you'' which was literally Midoris only condition for them both to be together. It makes the ending wonderful and perfect. I love this book so much.

[@akhiladas3824]

I think toru enter into the same phase in which Naoko lived. Kizuki died creating a pain in both toru and Naoko. Naoko also had another pain of her sister's death. Naoko was wounded by 2 death. As Naoko died, toru is Naoko now. He lost 2 imp people just like Naoko. This is what came to my mind

[@MasonMitchell52]

I really liked your first interpretation and it was similar to how I interpreted it at my intial reading and wish to look at it going forward. Thank you!

[@shiraisi13]

I think the ending is like this: somewhere in the book(forgot what chapter) Midori says to Tohru how she knocked at his door and he only peeked outside but never really opened the door (or something similar) after visiting Naoako at the center for the first time as Tohru was disassociating at the time. The end was similar to that incidence. Tohru listened to Norwegian Wood and started to reminiscence and was lost in his thoughts and Midori who either was apparently travelling with him or he could have called him after landing realized this and so asked him "where are you". this interpretatation works well with the comment below said

[@highdopamine29]

i read this book by accident, made me a bit sad and intrigued...

[@hatsunemarta]

how the hell do you read a book by accident

[@richardwestwood8212]

@@hatsunemarta things do happen Marta

[@milanmiric5534]

@@richardwestwood8212 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@adriantepes183]

Was Toru arriving in Germany to meet Nagasawa? I remember that Nagasawa said he felt they would meet in the distant future. Any ideas?

[@jeberdantheman7377]

I believe Toru mentions that he never spoke to Nagasawa again.

[@therathouse898]

@@jeberdantheman7377 but then again, his perspective is written from when he was still on the plane. maybe he meets nagasawa after landing

[@chandrikapaul3704]

Woah , this is a beautiful a really good interpretation , both seems it could happen . I think I need to read it again . I loved the book

[@abstractaf]

Thank you Chayanika :)

[@angeljimenez5311]

Yes! exactly he was in the airport and back to reality went he call midori . She wasn't expecting to here about him After long time

[@kandorstevenson]

I was wondering also if he ends up with Midori. Great review, thank you.

[@nareshputturaya4168]

Nicely articulated. Keep doing it

[@mortimer2469]

God.... this song is do marvelous and I suppose the book too

[@kuladeeparun]

Am I crazy or does it sound like Pt. Ravi Shankar is the one singing Norwegian Wood in the video?

[@abstractaf]

We are open to suggestions on books you'd want us to review or explain. Also, please subscribe to the channel :)

[@ren952]

i related alot to Toru's emotions and philosophies throughout the book so i think i have to believe that it was a happy ending for my own sake.

[@alfredoparsons5420]

Great reviews

[@abdulhfhd]

Thanks

[@ayushtripathi8062]

Loved this book nd ur videos

[@abstractaf]

Thank you 🙌🏽

[@MrMaxKeane]

I hoped it was something like your option 1… It made sense to me that it could have been your option 2… But having read other books by Murakami, my initial response was a dark one which left me feeling tremendously empty - like Toru being a little mentally unstable, that bizarre farewell to Reiko, I imagined him hearing voices of Midori but all of it was a figment of his imagination… the death of Noako being too much for him to handle, him basically becoming a homeless drunk

[@MrMaxKeane]

I am lying here trying to convince myself of your light-hearted explanation (I only finished the book a few moment ago)

[@abstractaf]

What you choose to believe is the ending :)

[@purakosokosho8373]

if it weren't for this video, I would cried myself out because there were this possibility of toru moving on with his life being depressed and without midori🥲 A nice ending is the interpretation that I choose to believe😭

[@Ramon-gg3bd]

Thanks for your insights. I considered that Toru may have gone insane himself after Naoko's death. During his trip he seemed to be in a very bad shape. So.. maybe he ended up needing mental health support as well, similar to Naoko at the beginning of the book.

[@mariapau358]

My first feeling when I read the ending was that this call never happened and that's why the memory doesn't exist in a real place. So I'm more on the second interpretation crowd...I also somehow like it better.

[@harshitgarg5182]

But he was at the railway station

[@torrecuso]

Very poor analysis. Didn't add an inch to improve the understanding of the end.

[@Luvjinnie-up7xw]

Why I feel different after Naoko death I never think she commit suicide I think she get better come to Reiko to come back to Toru but Reiko kill her and pretend it to be suicide I don't even think Toru come to live with Midori in an end but Reiko. I don’t even believe Reiko word when she talked about the little girl forced her to have sex.

[@jeanmartabaniera620]

Thank you for this

[@abstractaf]

Welcome ❤️

[@churlish2]

i maybe over sensitive or whatsoever but i did not like the protagonist the way he was isolated from everything or i felt maybe Japanese culture was different from ours ,when finally he started feeling the deep emotions he let them overwhelmed them and then again in instant he slept again with the first one he get and lol he is leaving all bad memories.For me at least it was not fair