A Personal Matter
Encyclopedia
A Personal Matter is a novel by Japanese writer Kenzaburō Ōe
(大江 健三郎 Ōe Kenzaburō). The novel is replete with imagery of death, decay and sex.
Written in 1964, the novel is dark, deeply personal, and semi-autobiographical. It tells the story of Bird, a man who must come to terms with the birth of his mentally disabled son.
. Bird tries to escape his responsibility for the child, turning to alcohol and an old girlfriend. He must decide whether to let the child live.
Though the novel has a "happy" end, it should be considered in juxtaposition with the story Aghwee the Sky Monster
(also by Ōe), in which a father faced with a similar decision makes a different choice (as of this writing Ōe's son, Hikari Ōe
is still alive, and despite his disability has made something of a name for himself in Japan with his musical compositions).
Kenzaburo Oe
is a Japanese author and a major figure in contemporary Japanese literature. His works, strongly influenced by French and American literature and literary theory, deal with political, social and philosophical issues including nuclear weapons, social non-conformism and existentialism.Ōe was awarded...
(大江 健三郎 Ōe Kenzaburō). The novel is replete with imagery of death, decay and sex.
Written in 1964, the novel is dark, deeply personal, and semi-autobiographical. It tells the story of Bird, a man who must come to terms with the birth of his mentally disabled son.
Plot summary
Bird's son, like Ōe's, was born with a brain herniaBrain herniation
Brain herniation, also known as cistern obliteration, is a deadly side effect of very high intracranial pressure that occurs when the brain shifts across structures within the skull...
. Bird tries to escape his responsibility for the child, turning to alcohol and an old girlfriend. He must decide whether to let the child live.
Though the novel has a "happy" end, it should be considered in juxtaposition with the story Aghwee the Sky Monster
Aghwee the Sky Monster
Aghwee The Sky Monster is a short story/novel published in 1964 by the Nobel Prize winning Japanese writer Kenzaburō Ōe...
(also by Ōe), in which a father faced with a similar decision makes a different choice (as of this writing Ōe's son, Hikari Ōe
Hikari Oe
is a Japanese composer who has autism. He is the son of Japanese author Kenzaburō Ōe.Hikari Ōe was born developmentally disabled. Doctors tried to convince his parents to let their son die, but they refused to do so. Even after an operation, Ōe remained visually impaired, developmentally delayed,...
is still alive, and despite his disability has made something of a name for himself in Japan with his musical compositions).