Personal Matter" by Kenzaburo Oe

Fatalism and Destiny in "A Personal Matter" by Kenzaburo Oe

Differences in culture have persistently influenced the works of literature among writers across the globe. African-American writers write about the racial prejudice and injustice of discrimination in a predominantly white American society. American writers, meanwhile, center on the issue of individualism and the society's role in reinforcing or discouraging this ideology. Notably, these writers talk about their experiences reflective of the Western cultural experience, and an analysis of the works of writers from the Eastern societies and cultures reflect an altogether different sentiment about life and living.

Take as an example the work of Kenzaburo Oe entitled, "A Personal Matter." Published in 1968, Oe's novel 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...
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