Reading Notes W16: Kenzaburo, Part B

Oe Kenzaburo, “The Clever Rain Tree” (1115-1128)

Oe Kenzaburo:

·         Born 1935

·         He ranks among the most important Japanese writers in the twentieth century (later decades).

·         He is the second Japanese writer to receive the Nobel Prize

·         Grotesque realism

·         His fiction “combines political and psychological themes to explore moral dilemmas in the Cold War, and now post-Cold War, eras” (1115).

·         Born in a rural area on Shikoku, Japan (one the smallest of four main islands).

·         Major themes in his works: threat of nuclear weapons to human survival, compromised innocence of the young, role of individual choice and responsibility in response to overwhelming issues.

The Story:

·         Tradition of autobiographical fiction in Japan

·         Setting: takes place at a seminar on East-West understanding, which is during the mid- 1970s.

·         Human psychology and political behavior

·         Depicts the mystery and sadness of the insane.

·         “The quest for human understanding that the seminar pursues, and the reader’s glimpses behind it of minds in isolation, might be said to represent opposing poles of the narrative” (1116).

·         “Oe would be familiar with such well-intentioned but perhaps naïve efforts to ease international tensions through dialogue, as well as with types likely to take part” (116). South Asians: attempt to communicate using different forms of English; Americans: try to dominate proceedings; South Korea/Iran: fear punishment for free exchange of ideas (both are pro-US dictatorship); Females: throw awkward receptions.

Quotes:

·         “Agatha, like all the American women associated with the conference, was a realist, pragmatist, and activist in every sphere, and she could not restrain herself from infusing even the simple, quiet process of withdrawing from the dark garden with a sense of purpose” (1121).

·         “But some kind of wisdom which makes it possible for seminars and parties like this to proceed peacefully must come into play just one step before a person attempts to scrutinize and pass judgement on such an issue” (1122).

·         “The Iranian warned us that if word that he and the Korean representative were involved in the scandal leaked out to the press, they might find themselves in trouble once they returned home” (1128).