Read two articles and write an essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Read two articles and write an - Essay Example ribe the bankruptcy of the Chinese feudal system and culture; whereas Nam Le recounts Yamata’s description of life in Hiroshima during the American aerial bombardment of World War II. On the one hand, A Madman’s diary is meant to be highly critical of the Chinese government and traditional form of culture for delivering the Chinese people into such hardships as they experienced during the first half of the 20th century, Yamata’s story also recounts hardships and privations but invokes Bushido and love of Fatherland at nearly every turn in order to rally her spirit. The protagonist in A Madman’s diary spends a great deal of time concerned over the fate of future generations due to the fact that he sees society crumbling around him. Due to this image of utter degradation and loss of direction, balance, and reason, the protagonist sees little hope in his homeland for the future generation to thrive. Naturally, the historical backdrop to this centers upon the ongoing occupation of Chinese land by Japanese soldiers, a complete breakdown in governance and leadership by the Nationalist Chinese forces, and the concurrent civil war that exists. In short, this is a time of utter and complete societal upheaval that affects every single citizen on a deeply personal level. Likewise, in Hiroshima, Yamata’s mother shows a brief glimmer of maternal instinct as she recalls what life was like for her in Hiroshima when she was a child, how it differed from the life the family lives currently and how she longs for those days to come again. Additionally, Yamata’s mother implores her to stay alive no matter what happens. Yamata’s mother dubs Yamata as â€Å"her heart†; saying that even if she dies – at least her heart will live on. Drawing a parallel to how strong the culture and propaganda levels of China were as compared to Japan in the given stories would be an exercise in futility. Even though it appears as though the Bushido code and willingness to endure