Your heart is like a great river after a long spell of rain, spilling over its banks. All signposts that once stood on the ground are gone, inundated and carried away by that rush of water. And still the rain beats down on the surface of the river. Every time you see a flood like that on the news you tell yourself: That's it. That's my heart.
The quote from Haruki Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore" compares the heart to a river that overflows after heavy rain, symbolizing intense emotions and overwhelming experiences. It suggests that just as a river can wash away familiar landmarks, strong feelings can erase traditional markers of stability and understanding in one's life. This imagery captures the tumultuous nature of human emotions, where clarity is lost amid the flood of feelings.
The description evokes a sense of helplessness as the heart, like the river, becomes uncontrollable under the pressure of emotional rainfall. It highlights a moment of recognition when observing such floods, where one sees reflections of their inner turmoil. In this context, the heart becomes a powerful force, shaped by past experiences yet continually influenced by ongoing emotional downpours.