I believe that the monkey’s role in “The Shinagawa Monkey” is an important one. By casting a monkey as a central role, it adds an amusing touch to the overall plot; this allows an element of surprise and shock that the reader did not see coming. As for the monkey himself, Murakami develops this character in an interesting way. I don’t view the monkey as just a talking animal, nor do I view him as a human trapped inside of an animal’s body. Rather, I see him as a perfect mixture of the two. The monkey has human-like qualities and obsessions, but he isn’t a soul trapped within an animal, in my opinion. Instead, he takes on a persona much like that of a whimsical creature like a leprechaun or an elf. This gives the character a more complex background.…show more content… It’s a sickness I suffer from… I know it’s wrong, but I can’t control myself.” To me, the monkey suffers from a severe case of obsessive compulsive disorder. He is driven to steal other’s names because his mind drives him to do so. He goes to great lengths to acquire what he wants. Also, when he takes on a person’s name he reveals he not only contracts the good, but also the bad. “I do steal people’s names… but, in doing so, I am able to relieve some of the negative elements that sticks to those names.” This confession leads to Mizuki asking what negativity her name
