Kokoro Analysis

In his novel titled Kokoro, Natsume Soseki explores the values of both the traditional society and the modern ideals brought about in the Meiji Era. The Meiji Era is a period of Japanese history (1868-1912) in which Emperor Meiji took the throne and enforced extreme social change. Prior to the Meiji Era, the Japanese culture withheld Confucian values that placed emphasis on a harmonious, collective society, education, extreme respect to authorities, and focus on human relationships rather than deities or metaphysics. Emperor Meiji's reforms, however, reflected upon influences of western philosophy; modern ideals emphasized ethics of the individual, loyalty to the state, a deepened sense of equality, and justice and duty to the family. During …show more content…
He recognizes that it is entirely expected within the traditional values to want to serve his father without question, yet realizes that “[he] had a greater admiration for Sensei with his secret contempt for such things as university degrees, than [he] had for [his] father,” (63). As he does so, he notes that “No word of apology would have expressed how [he] felt,” (64) and ‘hung [his] head in deep shame,” (64). The fact that this realization causes “I” to anguish places emphasis on the idea that an inconsistency in values has a negative effect on one’s mind and well-being. Up until this point, “I” is a fairly prideful character; he rarely becomes upset with himself and even blames it on others when an attempt to hurt his pride is committed. Therefore, Soseki’s emphasis on “I’s” suffering clearly points out that being sure of what one values in this time of social change is of the utmost importance. As the novel progresses, “I’s” sadness does as well. In conclusion, “I’s” contrasting feelings about being at home with his father is a result of his inconsistency, which in turn leads to “I’s” loneliness and confusion when contemplating the situation and his overarching …show more content…
Sensei is a character whom which “I” is intrigued by from the moment they meet and throughout the entire novel. “I” relates to Sensei because Sensei also yields loneliness and anger from his confusion of values. Sensei, in his letter, shares that when he was younger, he did uphold traditional values. He took his education seriously, remained loyal to his ruler and uncle, and dedicated himself to his family. However, Sensei admits to his breaking away from these values as he grows up, claiming that “this inconsistency may not be so much a natural part of my character as the effect that remembrance of my own past has had on me,” (98). Sensei clearly dedicates his divergence in ideals to his uncle’s domineering nature as he grows up. As he continues to describe his uncle’s wrongdoings in his letter, he clearly does not take responsibility for his own failure to adhere to his morals. Rather, Sensei claims it to be a natural outcome of events in his life. Therefore, there is an immediate negativity that Soseki places on his