https://padlet.com/asmachar/4c39c1zztvyjmiii Identify some of the ways in which Nakata and Kafka are similar, and some of the ways they differ. en-us 2022-03-01 11:19:26 UTC 2026-02-26 13:14:37 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/asmachar/4c39c1zztvyjmiii/wish/2071318284 Both display unexpected characteristics for people of their age: Kafka = wordly, sophisticated child. Nakata = naive, childish adult.]]> 2022-03-01 12:11:18 UTC https://padlet.com/asmachar/4c39c1zztvyjmiii/wish/2071318284 https://padlet.com/asmachar/4c39c1zztvyjmiii/wish/2071321070 Both characters suffer from issues caused by childhood trauma and neglect. Nakata shows a more extreme representation, as he is trapped in a childlike mindset (shown through his inability to grasp certain words, and calling himself "not bright"), whereas Kafka shows a more rebellious representation (dropping out of school, sexual perversion). Both characters dwell on the past and let it affect their current lives, causing self doubt and isolation. However, Kafka has a choice to be independent, whereas Nakata lacks this trait, due to his assumed mental ability. Both Kafka and Nakata have troubled, uncertain identities because of their childhood trauma.]]> 2022-03-01 12:13:35 UTC https://padlet.com/asmachar/4c39c1zztvyjmiii/wish/2071321070 https://padlet.com/asmachar/4c39c1zztvyjmiii/wish/2071323539 Kafka is 15, and physically he would be a child, yet throughout the novel we see him care for himself after executing his plan to run away from home, through his careful planning of location, transportation, shelter and the prices of such as well as balancing his living money for food also. He appears to be a young lad who who strives for intelligence, and uses that towards meeting others as well as planning his next ports of call to care for himself. Despite being a child, Kafka has an adult mindset and mental age and that is evident in multiple circumstances throughout the novel.

Nakata, however, is physically in his 60s, but due to the accident at the age of 9, he has the mental age and capabilities of a child. He isn’t able to read or write, which makes in very difficult in communicating (for example his discussion with the police officer where Nakata had to admit that he doesn’t know anything about characters or how to write his own name). Nakata doesn’t have the same ability that Kafka does to care for himself, and relies on staying in the same town, even using other cats for communication (for example mimi having to talk to kawamura regarding goma the missing cat).]]> 2022-03-01 12:15:12 UTC https://padlet.com/asmachar/4c39c1zztvyjmiii/wish/2071323539 https://padlet.com/asmachar/4c39c1zztvyjmiii/wish/2071324669 Both Kafka and Nakata take on and develop new identities at a young age. Nakata does this due to his memory loss from the incident that occurred when he was nine and Kafka chooses to take on his new identity at the age of fifteen as a way to escape from his trauma. One interesting difference between the two characters in this regard is the element of choice. Kafka is empowered by his choice, whereas Nakata feels vulnerable: “I’m scared. As I told you, I’m completely empty. Do you know what it means to be completely empty? [...] Being empty is like an unlived-in house. An unlocked, unlived-in house. Anybody can come in, any time they want. That’s what scares me the most.”]]> 2022-03-01 12:15:57 UTC https://padlet.com/asmachar/4c39c1zztvyjmiii/wish/2071324669