Story Analysis: The Seventh Man

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In the short story The 7th Man, the narrator's best friend dies. He is swept away by a typhoon wave. Although the 7th man could’ve saved him, he didn’t. This man shouldn’t feel guilty for not saving his friend. He was surviving and didn’t know exactly what to do in that instant. He could’ve disappeared without a trace. He wanted to live his life. The seventh man was 10 years old at this time. To this man, his friend K was like his brother. He showed brotherly love to him in every way, more than his own brother (Murakami 134). One day everything changed. Radio signals vanished, wind howled like a great wolf, and the ocean had its eyes wide open ready to strike. “Perhaps an hour had gone by with the wind at it’s worst like this when a hush …show more content…

He could’ve ran and picked him up before the wave had hit him. The timing would’ve been perfect. The man shouldn’t feel guilty about this incident. He did what he thought was right and stayed behind the break wall. So many other tragic things could’ve happened to not only K but also to the 7th man. He was learning to survive. This man was filled with stress and anxiety. When you’re stressed your body doesn’t react the way it would if you weren’t stressed. He was anxious and his heart was beating fast. His mind was scrambling trying to figure out what was happening. Before he knew it K was gone and he was sadden. He didn’t save him and that’s okay. He shouldn’t feel guilt for what he did because he didn’t know what to do until after it had happened. He thought about the incident each time he was near water and each time thought of every possible way he could’ve saved K. He could’ve died beside his friend, but he didn’t want to leave his family behind, he wanted to live his life. This man would remember this for the rest of his life and it would change the way he lived. He would protect those more around him. He wouldn’t take things for granted. This taught him a life lesson. Although he believes that he could’ve saved his friend, he didn’t, therefore he shouldn’t feel

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