One of the most prominent issues being discussed in postmodern literature is the concept of self-identity. Many of the texts in this genre feature characters that are on a quest of self-discovery. Two such examples of this are Haruki Murakami's Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and Paul Auster’s memoir, The Invention of Solitude. Both of these texts explore the meaning of self, but address the issue in different ways. Murakami’s novel suggests that solipsism gives rise to the loss of identity, while Auster argues the opposite, suggesting that within the confines of enclosure, the individual discovers his/her identity. This article will entail a discussion of Murakami’s text, and the second installment will entail Auster’s memoir.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World thrives on the idea that individuality does exist, but attaining a sense of self in this novel is a difficult goal that most people never achieve. This is largely because objects and possessions replace the self and the characters become synonymous not with personality traits, but with physical objects. The narrator in this novel is a nameless, faceless person, and Murakami ensures that readers get minimal physical description of all the characters in the text. The narrator describes people by the objects they possess, and tries to define people through these objects. For example, the granddaughter is known as “the everything pink girl” because she wears only pink clothes (164). Her attire defines her identity. Similarly, the narrator does this again when being held hostage. Amidst the chaos and destruction of his apartment, there are several lines of text dedicated to little man’s Rolex. Additionally, he never gives a physical description of himself, but goes into detail about the things he buys and wears. He offers an extensive list of his possessions that range from his