South of the Border, West of the Sun vs. The Republic
South of the Border, West of the Sun
Hajime has arrived at middle age with a loving family and an enviable career, yet he feels incomplete. When a childhood friend, now a beautiful woman, shows up with a secret from which she is unable to escape, the fault lines of doubt in Hajime’s quotidian existence begin to give way. Rich, mysterious, and quietly dazzling, in South of the Border, West of the Sun the simple arc of one man’s life becomes the exquisite literary terrain of Murakami’s remarkable genius.
The Republic
The Republic is a Socratic dialogue, written by Plato around 380 BC, concerning the definition of justice, the order and character of the just city-state and the just man—for this reason, ancient readers used the name On Justice as an alternative title (not to be confused with the spurious dialogue also titled On Justice). The dramatic date of the dialogue has been much debated and though it might have taken place some time during the Peloponnesian War, "there would be jarring anachronisms if any of the candidate specific dates between 432 and 404 were assigned". It is Plato's best-known work and has proven to be one of the most intellectually and historically influential works of philosophy and political theory. In it, Socrates along with various Athenians and foreigners discuss the meaning of justice and examine whether or not the just man is happier than the unjust man by considering a series of different cities coming into existence "in speech", culminating in a city called Kallipo...
Reviews
Reviews
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| Thoughtful exploration of memory and desire | 1 | |
| Engaging, well-developed characters | 1 |
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| Slow-paced narrative | 1 | |
| Ambiguous ending | 1 | |
| Limited action, heavy on introspection | 1 |
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| Has significantly shaped Western thought | 1 | |
| Timeless relevance | 1 |
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| Dense and complex language | 1 | |
| Abstract concepts can be challenging to grasp | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
'South of the Border, West of the Sun' offers a thoughtful exploration of memory and desire through the lens of an individual's life, focusing on personal relationships and introspection. In contrast, 'The Republic' addresses broader philosophical concepts of justice and the ideal society, which may not delve as deeply into personal desire but rather examines it in the context of societal structures. Therefore, if you are looking for a more intimate exploration of personal desire, 'South of the Border, West of the Sun' may resonate more.
'South of the Border, West of the Sun' is noted for its engaging and well-developed characters, particularly the protagonist Hajime and his complex relationships. On the other hand, 'The Republic' features philosophical figures like Socrates and various Athenians, but they serve more as vehicles for philosophical discourse than as fully fleshed-out characters. Thus, for character engagement, 'South of the Border, West of the Sun' is likely the better choice.
Yes, 'South of the Border, West of the Sun' is generally considered to have a more accessible narrative style, focusing on personal storytelling and emotional depth. In contrast, 'The Republic' employs dense and complex language, making it more challenging to read and understand due to its abstract philosophical concepts. Therefore, readers seeking a more straightforward narrative may find 'South of the Border, West of the Sun' easier to engage with.
'South of the Border, West of the Sun' is known for its ambiguous ending, leaving readers with questions about the characters' futures and the implications of their choices. In contrast, 'The Republic' concludes with a more definitive philosophical stance on justice and the ideal society, although it does leave some questions open for interpretation. Therefore, if you prefer a book with an ambiguous ending, 'South of the Border, West of the Sun' would be the better option.
'South of the Border, West of the Sun' is a novel by Haruki Murakami that tells the story of Hajime, a man who has reached middle age with a loving family and a successful career, yet feels incomplete. When a childhood friend reappears in his life, bringing with her a secret, his seemingly perfect existence starts to unravel. The book explores themes of memory, desire, and introspection.
Pros of 'South of the Border, West of the Sun' include its thoughtful exploration of memory and desire, as well as engaging and well-developed characters. Cons include a slow-paced narrative, an ambiguous ending, and limited action, with a heavy focus on introspection.
'The Republic' is a Socratic dialogue written by Plato around 380 BC. It addresses the definition of justice and examines the order and character of the just city-state and the just man. The dialogue explores whether a just man is happier than an unjust man through discussions on various topics, including the theory of forms, the immortality of the soul, and the roles of philosophers and poets in society.
Pros of 'The Republic' include its significant influence on Western thought and its timeless relevance. However, the dialogue is known for its dense and complex language, and the abstract concepts can be challenging to grasp.
'The Republic' was written by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.
'The Republic' is considered an influential work because it has significantly shaped Western philosophical and political thought. Its discussions on justice, the ideal state, and the role of philosophers have had a lasting impact on intellectual history.
Key themes in 'The Republic' include justice, the ideal state, the theory of forms, the immortality of the soul, and the roles of philosophers and poets in society.
