Haruki Murakami’s novel Sputnik Sweetheart is often described as a story of loneliness and love with elements of mysticism and detective mysteries. Indian researcher Mannat Jagia presents a new perspective on the book through the lens of lucid dreaming.
One of the main characters, Sumire, changes her appearance and lifestyle and quits smoking through lucid dreaming and under the influence of Miu. The young woman uses a popular method to improve this practice – she keeps a dream journal. And K, who loves her, lives in his own illusory world, making love to Sumire in his lucid dreams.
The cultural backgrounds of the characters influence their perceptions of lucid dreaming. Sumire’s dreams are infused with elements of Japanese culture. In her dreams, she often wanders through traditional Japanese gardens with winding paths and blooming cherry blossoms. The book is full of symbolism. For example, K often dreams of cats – a symbol of mystery, intuition, and the supernatural in Japanese folklore. The researcher notes that cats give a multi-layered meaning to the theme of lucid dreaming, blurring the line between dreams and reality.
What do you think of this view of Murakami’s novel?
The presentation was given in March 2024 at the International Scientific Research Conference in Thailand.
Get all the latest news about lucid dreams via our channels on Telegram, Facebook, Twitter
