The Last Samurai

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses suicide.

Postmodernism, as a literary and artistic movement, emerged in the latter half of the 20th century. In literature, postmodernism rejects the conventional storytelling norms. It is characterized by a radical rethinking of narrative structures, a deconstruction of established boundaries between author and reader, and a deep engagement with themes such as ambiguity, fragmentation, and the blurring of reality and fiction. This literary approach opens doors to a wide array of narrative techniques and thematic explorations, from metafiction and nonlinear storytelling to intertextuality and linguistic play. It is within this context of literary postmodernism that works like Helen DeWitt’s Last Samurai find their place, engaging with the intricate facets of postmodernism to offer a unique and challenging reading experience.

In The Last Samurai, DeWitt weaves postmodern concerns of suicide, boredom, nothingness, and meaninglessness into the fabric of the narrative. These concerns are deeply entwined with the existential dilemmas faced by the characters. Sibylla grapples with a profound sense of existential “boredom” (30), often viewing it as a fate worse than death. This boredom reflects the postmodern sense of the monotony of modern life and the overwhelming flow of information that can lead to a sense of nothingness.