Analysis of Murakami's 'The Second Bakery Attack' Essay

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of Haruki Murakami's short story, 'The Second Bakery Attack'. It examines how the narrative uses the past to inform the present, focusing on the protagonist's experiences and the surreal, dreamlike quality of the story. The essay delves into the psychological aspects of the characters, exploring their motivations and the symbolism embedded within the narrative, such as the volcano. It further investigates the relational dynamics between the married couple, highlighting shifts in power and the wife's role in seeking resolution. The essay also touches upon the socio-political undercurrents within the story, particularly the critique of capitalist society. Ultimately, the essay concludes by emphasizing the complexity and originality of Murakami's storytelling, showcasing how he weaves together psychological, relational, and socio-political elements to create a thought-provoking narrative.

Running head: ENGLISH ESSAY
The Second Bakery Attack was written by Haruki Murakami during 1985 as part of a
short story which were later incorporated in the book. The story begins with a
married couple who are awaken with violent pangs of hunger. The story follows the
narration of the protagonist where the wife decides to rob a McDonald to satisfy
their hunger. The narration uses the past to tell the story in the present and helps to
throw light on the main characters as well. Like all of Murakami’s work, this too
shows surrealism that is almost dreamlike (Murakami, 1993). Murakami’s work is
often a bizarre originality that always creates a stimulating read, highlighting the
claim for pop culture. The following essay discusses the Murakami’s representation
of characters from a psychoanalytical point of view, it also analyses the symbolism
in the story.
The very first thing that can be noticed when reading the story is the way Murakami
uses the previous set up to the present scenario. This story follows a pattern of
thinking from the narrator’s point of view. He justifies and argues simultaneously,
analyzing his own decisions. The story initiates with, “I'm still not sure I made the
right choice when I told my wife about the bakery attack. ……we never choose
anything at all. Things happen. Or not.” (Murakami, 1993). Through this, the
readers can feel a sense of alienation that follows throughout the discourse of his
narrative. Murakami, (1993) indicates that the story is almost absurd and almost an
impossible experience, yet it is placed in the most realistic manner. On the other
hand, juxtaposition of the real relatable elements with the absurd story line creates
a gaze into the subconscious side of the narrator. There is also a sense of
languidness in the narration where the actual story line is delayed as the narrator
explores the past and then uses that to express a present action. There is a

1ENGLISH ESSAY
nonchalant attitude of the narrator who unhurriedly explains the story to his wife
even when he is tormented by the violent pangs of hunger (Murakami,1993). With
reference to “Time oozed through the dark like a lead weight in a fish's gut”, it
indicates that there is a deliberate tardiness that the narrator wants to impose
(Murakami, 1993, p1). It is highly significant to note that the hunger should instigate
a promptness which is lacking. To illustrate, the narrator shows no hurry to address
his hunger instead there is a delay, “I read the print on the aluminium beer
cans…..crumbs on the table top” (Murakami, 1993, p1).
At this point, Murakami, (1993) indicates that there is a sense of symbolism
throughout the story which goes to and from the past and present events. There is
a presence of surrealism that splits the scene into two. While the wife looks for food,
he looks down from his boat into the abyss of volcano. In this context, the meaning
behind the volcano symbolises an eminent eruption of the narrator’s emotions
attracts the readers’ emotions. The volcano signifies a sense of desire from the
narrator who has not been able to fulfil his need for social change, resulting in
severe hunger, indicating vulnerability and insecurity. It can be understood from the
following evidence from the text, when the narrator points out that “I see the peak
of a volcano thrusting up from the ocean floor”, it illustrates that he is vulnerable
when he mentions “unsettled feeling, as if a hollow had opened somewhere
………….resembled the paralyzing fear you might feel when you climb to the very
top of a high steeple” (Murakami, 1993, p2). Arguments at this stage relates to the
fact that the volcano symbolism is the repressed libido the narrator has for his wife
and does not quite understand her nature and the paradigms of marriage. The
passage indicates that the symbolism of the volcano is also psychological. This is
further supported through Sigmund Freud’s comment, “cinematic imagery” which

2ENGLISH ESSAY
highlights the repercussion of the repressed desire which has established the
meaning behind it (Murakami, 1993).
The third argument explores the relationship dimension of the couple and
their characters. Murakami suggests at this stage, upholds the attack on the first
bakery has made him fear the consequences and also emasculated him in some
ways, which the feeling that he has brought into the marriage. He visualises his wife
as a rather timid person with old fashion views yet quickly agrees with her and says
there is a certain resolution in her character that gradually makes her as the more
dominant character. In the initial stage of the story the husband is a typical male
character who does not understand the relationship dynamics, however, with the
progression of the story he seems to take a backseat while the wife takes the reign
(Murakami, 1993). The author suggests that the narrator is compliant to her
ideologies and considers her opinion as “like a kind of revelation” (Murakami, 1993,
p2). This kind of tendency is observed in a newly married couple who often avoid
asking each other honest question and instead choose to comply with the opinion of
their spouse (Murakami, 1993). However, the usage of the word “thesis” suggests
that even though he might be opposed to the ideology. He does not state his own
opinion and quietly accepts the ideology that his wife tells him, he considers her
“old fashion” in her views and opinion yet does little to assert his own point of view,
it can be understood that he associates her ideologies as “authority of a revelation”
(Murakami, 1993, p2). Murakami, (1993) points out that the outcome is odd as there
is lack of conflict and neither there is a presence of compromise. At this point, the
narration relates to the fact that the wife acts as an independent character and
from a psychological point of view is an extension of the narrator’s subconscious.
She is the one that takes the resolution to address the past mistake and intends to

3ENGLISH ESSAY
cure the curse of the past by attacking the second bakery. Arguments highlight that
the wife has the need to establish a sense of unity with the husband and feels
jealous of the narrator’s past association with the friend. The character is desperate
and is willing to go to any measure to build a sense of common ground with her
husband. In the story she states that, “I'm your best friend now, aren't I? ……like
this until I married you”. Thus the second attack on the bakery is also a connection
to the past, “That's why ……It was like a curse.” (Murakami, 1993, p4). As
previously stated the wife is old fashioned, she believes that the curse of the past is
haunting their present.
The last argument is the socio-political symbolism that is evident throughout
the story. Murakami reveals the socio-political identity of the baker through his
preference of music which suggests that he is a supporter of the communist party
as he listens to Wagner’s opera (Murakami, 1993). Glimpses of the Japan’s socio-
political situation adds value to the narration regarding the friend were “attackers,
not robbers” and voluntarily chose not to work to revolt against the gradual
capitalistic Japanese society. They were rebels who revolted by showing anti-social
behaviour against the capitalist society. The attack on the first bakery does not sit
well with the narrator who feels guilty and fears the repercussion of his action when
he states, “we had this feeling that we had made a terrible mistake” (Murakami,
1993, p4). Murakami, (1993) at this juncture, the narrator’s role is that of a social
conformist who is compliant and docile therefore follows the social structure unlike
his friend and also follows his wife. The McDonald chain is a proof of American
influence that offers round the clock service and becomes the “compromised”
choice or the attack.

4ENGLISH ESSAY
In conclusion, Haruki Murakami has narrated a very surrealistic story
involving a middle-class Japanese couple who have nothing extraordinary except for
a violent hunger and a shared need to attack a bakery. It is one of the most
simplistic yet absurd, surreal stories that is complex in its meaning of the socio-
political, relational and psychological context. Murakami has been able to show the
past experience and set up the present events. His surrealism has allowed to bring
the differences of the characters very well.

5ENGLISH ESSAY
Reference
Murakami, H. (1993). The Second Bakery Attack. The Elephant Vanishes, 35-49.