The concept of illusion and deception are the fundamental themes in Haruki Murakami’s After Dark, which questions the readers on not only the nature of the surrealistic happenings of the book, but also the legitimacy of interactions of the characters as a whole. The interactions between Mari and Takahashi alludes to this crucial theme within the novel, questioning the readers why the readers would trust the words of the characters word for word.
The conversation between Mari and Takahashi in 3:42AM occurs after Mari’s trial within Alphaville had met its conclusions. As the conversation occurs right after such an emotionally charged event, the conversations between Mark and Takahashi takes on a contemplative and reflective tone. The diction of the conversation that comes before the passage is clear and direct, as if Mari and Takahashi are taking turns making confessions of their darkest and their most closely guarded secrets. As the night deepens, Mari questions her companion on the hypothetical situation of him having slept with Mari’s sister Eri, which Takahashi at first attempts to not answer through avoidance, only to later justify his unconditional reason for rejection of Mari’s claims. This constant rejection of Mari’s claims on the part of Takahashi becomes ever so evident within the styling of his speech, where he emphasizes the hypothetical nature of the situation. When this is still unable to shake off Mari’s curiosity concerning her speculations, Takahashi states plainly that for the sake of “professional confidentiality”, he would have to answer no to her questions. The concept of forced deception introduced by Takahashi for what is the middle of the novel serves to underscores irony of his situation within the novel, which, in its objective point of view, refuses to tell the readers about what the characters are thinking within this passage, let alone throughout the novel. This in turn helps the passage to weave the illusions of uncertainty in not only the physical aspect of the novel, but also within the mental aspects of it as well.
The revelation that could be gained within this short passage runs in discord with the characterizations that have been established throughout the novel. Under the hypothetical premise introduced by Mari and Takahashi, it becomes ever so apparent that Mari and Takahashi are not simple characters, but real humans with the capability to lie when need be. This revelation could be unbearable for the readers, as they have no way to filter the lies the characters may have spouted throughout the passage, as the novel takes place in a matter of just one night within Metropolitan Japan, where those awake flourish under the obscurity provided by the darkness. Such confusions may at first seem frustrating on the part of the readers, but this brilliant subversion of the distinction of characters as a plot device strengthens the concept of duplicity and illusions within the novel.
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passage chosen:
say you took my sister to that hotel and had sex with her. Hypothetically speaking.”
“hypothetically speaking.”
“If I did that, do you think you would honestly answer yes?”
“Takahashi thinks about this for a moment.”
“Probably not,” he says. I probably answer no.”
“Why?”
“Cause it would compromise your sister’s privacy.”
“Kinda like professional confidentiality?”
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