Wages Of Guilt By Ian Biuruma Analysis
Wages of Guilt, was written by Ian Buruma and published in 1994. The author takes a subject rarely discussed or analysed and examines it in great depth. While much is written historically about war it is mostly the epic battles that have been fought, the great ideas that were fought over and the effect of war on civilians during the war itself, almost always from the victors point of view.
The main focus of the book is on the varying responses to the horrors perpetrated by both the Japanese and the Germans in World War II. The author focuses on Auschwitz as the worst of the Germans war crimes and their worst symbol of shame and guilt for the war. Slightly differently he elects to focus for a large portion of the book on the effect the bombing …show more content…
He was well placed in a unique position to comment from personal experience on the similarities and differences between both countries responses to their defeat in World War II. He is an accomplished author of a large number of books and several plays. Most of his books are about Japanese life and culture, or at least Asia. This does not however weaken his exploration and analysis of post war Germany in any way. If anything he puts even greater energy into capturing the German response to the crimes against humanity committed by them and their …show more content…
This oppression was similar to the enslavement of the Jews, Gypsies and communists in Nazi Germany and the enslavement and murder of Koreans and Chinese both in the course of the war such as the Nanking massacre and slave labour enforced by the Japanese. Some lessons can be drawn for the white South African population, such as how the Germans and Japanese are genuine supporters of and advocates for peace, and how the Germans are strong supporters of Israel and minorities, now becoming one of the most socially liberal and accepting countries in the world. As is evidenced by many actions and continued racist attitudes by whites against blacks and a lack of guilt or even remorse for apartheid the understanding by the Germans of their wrong actions would be well duplicated
The main focus of the book is on the varying responses to the horrors perpetrated by both the Japanese and the Germans in World War II. The author focuses on Auschwitz as the worst of the Germans war crimes and their worst symbol of shame and guilt for the war. Slightly differently he elects to focus for a large portion of the book on the effect the bombing …show more content…
He was well placed in a unique position to comment from personal experience on the similarities and differences between both countries responses to their defeat in World War II. He is an accomplished author of a large number of books and several plays. Most of his books are about Japanese life and culture, or at least Asia. This does not however weaken his exploration and analysis of post war Germany in any way. If anything he puts even greater energy into capturing the German response to the crimes against humanity committed by them and their …show more content…
This oppression was similar to the enslavement of the Jews, Gypsies and communists in Nazi Germany and the enslavement and murder of Koreans and Chinese both in the course of the war such as the Nanking massacre and slave labour enforced by the Japanese. Some lessons can be drawn for the white South African population, such as how the Germans and Japanese are genuine supporters of and advocates for peace, and how the Germans are strong supporters of Israel and minorities, now becoming one of the most socially liberal and accepting countries in the world. As is evidenced by many actions and continued racist attitudes by whites against blacks and a lack of guilt or even remorse for apartheid the understanding by the Germans of their wrong actions would be well duplicated