Redefining Masculinity in Haruki Murakami's Men Without Women

Abstract

For centuries, the concept of the ideal man being macho has dominated over all forms of culture. In literature too male protagonists have been portrayed as strong men who are in control of their emotions. Any form of emotional expression from a man is deemed to be weak and labeled as effeminate.  However, contemporary writers like Haruki Murakami are changing the ways in which men are portrayed in literature. Murakami makes his male characters vulnerable to pain and sadness thereby challenging the hegemonic notions of masculinity. The paper focuses on Murakami’s collection of short stories titled Men without Women, and studies the male characters in some of these short stories. It attempts to understand the changing definitions of masculinity and probes into what constitutes masculinity.