“Why do you like jellyfish so much?" I asked. "I don't know. I guess I think they're cute," she said. "But one thing did occur to me when I was really focused on them. What we see before us is just one tiny part of the world. We get into the habit of thinking, This is the world, but that's not true at all. The real world is in a much darker and deeper place than this, and most of it is occupied by jellyfish and things. We just happen to forget all that. Don't you agree? Two thirds of the earth's surface is ocean, and all we can see of it with the naked eye is the surface: the skin. We hardly know anything about what's beneath the skin.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Haruki Murakami, the character expresses a fascination with jellyfish and discusses the idea that what we see on the surface is only a small fraction of the vast and mysterious world that lies beneath. The character suggests that we often forget about the depths and complexities of the world around us, focusing only on what is visible to the naked eye. This quote encourages the reader to consider the hidden layers and unknown aspects of the world that may be overlooked in our day-to-day lives.
The Hidden Depths of the World
In this quote from Haruki Murakami's novel "After Dark," a character expresses their fascination with jellyfish and how they represent the hidden depths of the world. This sentiment can be seen as a metaphor for how we often overlook or underestimate the complexity and vastness of the world around us. It serves as a reminder to look beyond the surface and explore the unknown and mysterious aspects of life, both in nature and in ourselves. Just like jellyfish, there is so much more beneath the surface waiting to be discovered and understood.
Reflection on the vastness of the world
"Why do you like jellyfish so much?" I asked. "I don't know. I guess I think they're cute," she said. "But one thing did occur to me when I was really focused on them. What we see before us is just one tiny part of the world. We get into the habit of thinking, This is the world, but that's not true at all. The real world is in a much darker and deeper place than this, and most of it is occupied by jellyfish and things. We just happen to forget all that. Don't you agree? Two thirds of the earth's surface is ocean, and all we can see of it with the naked eye is the surface: the skin. We hardly know anything about what's beneath the skin.” - Haruki Murakami"
Reflection Questions:
In this quote from Haruki Murakami, the character expresses their fascination with jellyfish and muses about the vastness of the world that lies beneath the surface of the ocean. As you reflect on this passage, consider the following questions:
- How does the idea of the "real world" being much larger and more mysterious than what we see on the surface resonate with you?
- In what ways do you think we, as humans, tend to overlook or forget about the hidden depths of the world around us?
- Have you ever had an experience that made you realize the limited scope of your perception of the world? If so, how did it impact your understanding of reality?
- How can the metaphor of the ocean and jellyfish be applied to other aspects of life or human nature?
Similar quotes
“The real world is in a much darker and deeper place than this, and most of it is occupied by jellyfish and things. We just happen to to forget all that. Don't you agree? Two-thirds of earth's surface is ocean, and all we can see with the naked eye is the surface: the skin.”
“What we see before us is just one tiny part of the world. We get in the habit of thinking, this is the world, but that's not true at all. The real world is a much darker and deeper place than this, and much of it is occupied by jellyfish and things.”
“I find that all people are fundamentally alike. We are one human family. Perhaps we have different clothes, our skin is of a different color, or we speak various languages, but that is on the surface only. We all have dreams and seek for things that will bring true happiness. To know all the world, I just need to learn about myself.”
“You think you know what is just and what is not. I understand. We all think we know." I had no doubt, myself, then, that at each moment each one of us, man, woman, child, perhaps even the poor old horse turning the mill-wheel, knew what was just: all creatures come into the world bringing with them the memory of justice. "But we live in a world of laws," I said to my poor prisoner, "a world of the second-best. There is nothing we can do about that. We are fallen creatures. All we can do is to uphold the laws, all of us, without allowing the memory of justice to fade.”
“What do you think it is to be normal?'Why in the world would you want to be?' she says.I don't know. I guess that's the problem.'I don't think normal is that great.'But so many people choose it,' I reply.I don't think that's it at all. I think most everyone is normal and some of us, for whatever reason, choose to reject that and wear ruby red slippers or old black hats.'Well, why do we choose the hard road?”