"A Personal Matter"

Paper Summary:

Kenzaburo Oe's novel entitled "A Personal Matter" is a personal narrative of the travails that he and his family went through during post-World War II Japan, a period wherein the country's citizens are experiencing suffering as a result of their nation's defeat in the war. This paper discusses an emergent theme that dominates the novel, which is the fatalistic attitude that the protagonist of the novel, Bird, assumes. Remarkably, the novel illustrates Bird's shift from being fatalistic to being an individual in control of himself and the course of his 'fate.' The discussion in this paper analyzes how this transition happens in "A Personal Matter," and how, through the theme of fatalism and concept of destiny, Oe's novel reflects Japanese society at a time when society is still struggling from a downfall politically and economically, to the detriment of the country's people. In effect, this paper argues that Bird's transition from being fatalistic to being a decisive individual reflects his eventual subsistence to asserting his control over his life, trusting and being himself in the midst of complexities in life that he faces.

From the Paper:

"These insights about Bird's transition from being fatalistic to decisive become apparent when accounts of his previous behavior and attitude about his son's health problems are analyzed. In the first chapter of the novel, it is evident that Bird is at a crossroads, experiencing internal struggle as he seeks to reconcile his want to become free and live life as a bachelor and need to become a good father and husband for his family. Oe characterizes Bird as a stubborn and happy-go-lucky individual, whose ultimate goal in life is to travel in Africa, and is currently experiencing the distress of being a "family man": "Was he being forced to say good-by, in spite of himself, to the single and final occasion of dazzling tension in his youth? And what if I am? There's not a thing in hell I can do about it!" (3). This last utterance by Bird demonstrates his fatalistic attitude in life, where he passively accepts life as fate presents it to him, an individual who believes that can do nothing to change his fate, since it is already pre-determined."

More papers on "A Personal Matter":

• Analytical Essay # 56456 : "A Personal Matter" and Character 'Bird'"
• Analytical Essay # 13928 : "A Personal Matter" ( Kenzaburo Oe )"
• Analytical Essay # 16663 : "The Heart of the Matter"

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