DefinePK

Research Objective

To explore freedom as a deeply personal construct shaped by internal and external factors by examining authenticity, spontaneity, and freedom of choice in Mieko Kawakami's Heaven through the lenses of Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist philosophy and Laozi's concept of Taoist wu-wei.

Methodology

Qualitative research approach; Close textual analysis of Mieko Kawakami's Heaven; Comparative framework utilizing Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialism (radical choice, responsibility, anguish, bad faith) and Laozi's wu-wei (effortless action, harmony with nature).

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD; A[Identify Philosophical Concepts: Sartre's Existentialism & Laozi's Wu-Wei] --> B[Qualitative Research Approach]; B --> C[Close Textual Analysis of Kawakami's Heaven]; C --> D[Examine Character Agency & Choice]; D --> E[Compare/Contrast Existential Choice vs. Taoist Acceptance]; E --> F[Determine Freedom Paradox and Synthesis]; F --> G[Conclusion on Authenticity and Spontaneity];                    

Discussion

The study bridges Western existentialism and Eastern Taoist philosophy to analyze the tension between living authentically and conforming to oppression in Heaven. Sartre's emphasis on conscious choice contrasts with wu-wei's focus on yielding, yet both guide characters toward self-definition amidst bullying and societal constraints. The characters' responses to suffering (e.g., Kojima's acceptance vs. Momose's nihilism) illustrate the spectrum of freedom.

Key Findings

Authenticity in the novel aligns with Sartre, seen in the protagonist's struggle with anguish and small acts of resistance. Spontaneity is tied to wu-wei, exemplified by Kojima's acceptance and the protagonist's post-surgery surrender to flow. Freedom of choice is paradoxical, requiring a synthesis of existential assertion (active choice) and wu-wei (passive acceptance).

Conclusion

Mieko Kawakami's Heaven successfully weaves together existentialism and Taoism to explore the complex, paradoxical nature of freedom. True freedom is found not in the absence of constraints, but in the nuanced combination of active resistance (choice) and passive acceptance (wu-wei) in response to circumstances.

Fact Check

1. The study analyzes Mieko Kawakami's novel Heaven.
2. The theoretical framework incorporates Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialism and Laozi's wu-wei.
3. The article is published in the Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, Vol.03 No.01 (2025).

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