Table of Contents
Introduction
When comparing the two stories “Campus Love” and Norwegian wood, it is fundamentally important to point out that the intention is to demonstrate the similarities and differences. Besides the messages and communications made in the texts, it is imperatively ostensible that the authors employed certain stylistic devices in their presentations that make their works similar in some respects and different in others. Every literature serves the important purpose, which is dynamic in nature. It would entertain, warn, remind, educate or inform the audiences in a given matter, and in fact, that is the reason as to why literature is referred to as the mirror of society. In this study, the focus is placed on the stylistic devices, messages, and the target audiences to elucidate the similarities and differences.
We can do it today.
Similarities
There are commonalities that are vivid in the two pieces of literature. To begin with, “Campus Love” by E. C. Osondu is delivered to the readers in form of dialogue. The speaker tries to explain his or her ordeal in the university, and indeed consider it a detriment to his or her study. In this presentation, love is perceived as a stronger feeling that surpasses others in a person. From the speaker’s explications, love is personified as a stronger entity that grabs its subject with the collar and holds him or her so tightly that he or she must only dance to its tunes. The same effects are felt in Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood, a death-haunted love triangle in the university in Tokyo. The main character, Toru in his agony with the experience of his friend who kills himself, and his girlfriend, something that makes him mentally ill.
From the presentation herein, the common theme, or rather subject is love. It happens among the young people, and for that matter, as they pursue their studies. In both instances, love presents an impact that in one way or another affect the lives of the people involved. In the “Campus Love” by E. C. Osondu, the narrator is forced to abort his study for the first time and only succeeds on the second attempt. In other words, he was overtaken by the strong influence of love, something that denied him the balance to do things objectively. This is a common thing, more so with many youths today who engage in romantic relationships (McCarthy and Casey 950). Cases have been reported of people who are overflown with the passion for one another to an extent that they discontinue their studies.
In the same way, Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood posits a love triangle that leads to death on the campus. The young man is flown and becomes jealous, which in turn leads him to kill himself. Here, too, is a true reflection of society. Young people in the university have reported cases of students killing themselves and others because of love. Concisely, the two authors explicate the true ordeal of love that becomes unbearable to the bearers that if they are not careful then they act irrationally. In this precept, the readers of the two articles must decipher a lot to understand that love requires responsibility and rationality, lest it becomes a regrettable affair (McCarthy and Casey 955). The target audiences in the two articles are the youths, who are expected to learn a lot of things after interacting with them.
Differences
Besides the similarities pointed out about the two articles, there are potential differences that one can vividly see while interacting with them. For instance, “Campus Love” by E. C. Osondu is told in a dialogue format and in the first person. The narrator takes the readers through his encounter with a woman whose communications to him in the office of academic registrar made him feel different (Osondu 2). Essentially, the story is told in an African context and culture. The conversation progresses from one stage to another, from strangers to friends, and from helping one another to being together. The lady tells the young man that she hails from a poor background and cannot afford certain necessities like buying a cab.
On the other hand, Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami is adopted in a different culture. In the story, Toru is in college in Tokyo, Turkey and he falls in love with a beautiful woman named Naoko, whose boyfriend Kizuki, who happens to be Toru’s boyfriend, has killed himself. Maybe, the two retorted to loving each other as a therapeutic measure after the ordeal, Kizuki seems to have been tortured and is not willing to accept him. The story is told in a reflection of the Japanese character traits and nature of the struggle. This is evident when Toru after being rejected, reaches out to Midori who is an outspoken lady and sexually poised than Naoko.it shows that Japanese, as opposed to the Africans go out to grab the opportunity, even if things seem to be tough.
However, this should not be quoted out of context every culture here is shown to demonstrate strength in one instance and weakness in another. For example, as the African lovers appear to be poor and accept that condition, they are not driven much by the Japanese. They are able to withstand the pressure of love, reposition themselves, and accomplish their dreams. On the other hand, the Japanese love takes a different shape with regrettable impacts, such as death. Kizuki is overtaken by emotions and kills himself, and after his death, his closest friend Toru sets to betray him by pursuing his girlfriend (Murakami 4). This is an indication that every author seeks to pass a particular message to his or her intended audiences. As much as the audiences are of the same age, Haruki Murakami’s audiences are sought from the Japanese culture while Osondu’s are drawn from Africa. The two demonstrate a culturally diverse society that shows the difference in one point and similarity in another, which is very important.
Conclusion
It is inferential from the analysis that the two articles possess similarities and differences that make them unique and distinct from one another. The theme and subject of love are examined, but the impacts that address the readers with the message of caution. The main audiences are the youths, more so those in their tertiary levels of study who must be on the lookout to ensure that their feelings do not overcome their ambitions. Even though they are presented from different cultures, the stories, in a nutshell, seeks to communicate the message of cultural diversity, which indeed helps the society to grow in one way or another. Factors pointed out as the weakness of one culture and strengths of another are some of the elements that make them unique and diversified, something that should be respected, embraced and adored as such, and to be communicated intelligently, and not vilified. The two articles are important and present essential messages to the readers.
- McCarthy, Bill, and Teresa Casey. “Love, sex, And Crime: Adolescent Romantic Relationships And Offending.” American Sociological Review, vol. 73, no. 6, 2008, pp. 944-969.
- Murakami, Haruki. Norwegian Wood. Vintage Books, 2012.
- Osondu, E. C. “Campus Love .” Brittle Paper, 28 Sept. 2015, brittlepaper.com/2015/09/campus-love-osondu-african-love-story/.