Unlike the protagonist, Oe chose immediate accountability. He transformed his guilt into a fictional lens to critique human cowardice. Plot Summary: The Descent and Awakening
As the Nobel committee said, Ōe’s work creates a "disconcerting picture of the human predicament today". But within that disconcerting picture is a truth that is ultimately liberating. We may all be "Birds" at some point in our lives—wanting to fly away from our responsibilities and our pain. But Ōe shows that the only real escape is through acceptance, responsibility, and the difficult, daily act of love. This is a "Personal Matter" that speaks to us all. a personal matter kenzaburo oe pdf