Can two writers 'weave' same story?
This is a very piquent query. My friend Jacob (not his original name) wrote a story, VALUE, which was published in a prominent Punjabi literary magazine, but in the next issue, there was an objection published, in which someone pointed out that a story of almost-same plot has already been published by some other writer. When I read it, I was shell-shocked and went ahead to read that story too, which was written by someone else, and then read VALUE too again, and found great similarities, amid both of the stories, not in the way of presentation but as the plot moves ahead and as is the crux. Now, when I told my friend about it, he was also surprised and asked me to state the story verbatim, on phone, and got so upset and shocked that he asked me to give him that story. I gave it to him, and he re-read it and called me again to express his surprise. Now, I know that he had never read this story, and has already written a lot many famous stories and is quite a name in Punjabi literature. However, why this story of his has attracted blame? He himself fails to make out the reason? Can two writers writing in different times in two different areas of same state/province and in same language write same stories (almost, of same plot) without even reading story of each other. The former writer is dead. I would request the posters to give their opinions, shying away from the suggestion that he might have read it earlier or might have heard it from someone i.e. the story written by former writer. This point is comprehensible, but I want the answer (psychologically or otherwise) if it is possible. I have put this question on this international sight as readers of all cultures and languages surf it and can give me more insight. I am asked by the literary magazine to write in-depth analysis on this topic. I am a literary analyst and critic with psychological bent.
I know most of the plays of William Shakespeare are based on tales already in folk memory, but this story is not having any folk-element.