Sayaka Murata’s Earthlings: A Psychoanalytical Reading

Abstract

Sayaka Murata is a Japanese author whose works are often considered shocking and controversial. She challenges the notion of normality through characters that are considered peculiar in the context of modern society, yet through them, conventional beliefs are deemed absurd. Sayaka’s worldwide fame peaked with Takemori’s English translation of her novel Earthlings in 2021, which was originally published in 2018 as Chikyū Seijin. However, not enough research has been done to unravel its depths. This paper aims to explore the complexities of the human psyche and the interplay of personal and collective consciousness. Through the main protagonist, Natsuki, the conflict between the Conscious and the unconscious mind is demonstrated, which results in outbursts of the repressed unconscious. This paper highlights the function of cannibalism in Earthlings, and it argues that the theme of cannibalism signifies the outburst of the unconscious and its triumph over the conscious mind. Cannibalism is a significant theme in Murata’s Earthlings and has evoked various reactions and different interpretations from readers around the world. It has roots in human history, and over the years was utilized to serve different purposes in the literary field. Although the novel is recognized, it has been scarcely addressed in academic studies, therefore, this paper will bridge this gap.