Caleb Hubble
HS 105 D
Loyola University Maryland
Professor Diehl
2/6/2015
A Change of Heart Natsume Soseki's 1914 novel Kokoro is an extremely layered novel. While on the surface level, Kokoro is about complicated interpersonal relationships, a closer reading of it reveals some startling and widely apt symbolism. Kokoro isn't just focused on using deep human relationships as metaphors though, the novel retains an incredible humanity. The characters and relationships in the novel are both strong, believable characters with agency, and strong representations of Meiji-era struggles between tradition and western modernization. Western modernization was the seed of great change for the main characters and the classes they represent, representing …show more content…
The Narrator, a young man graduating from college, is undergoing a transition that is analogous to the major changes of the Meiji reform. He is young, and full or life, much like the modernization that was gripping Japan at the time; the rush to modernize was especially in major cities like Tokyo, where the Narrator spends the bulk of their time. The next age group, holding Sensei and K, are trapped in a battle between modernization and more traditional values. They seem to resist change, but they generally enjoy the amenities that come with westernization. They are, however, reserved about modernization. As a result of their reservations, they are eventually crushed by the loss of cultural identity and personal figures in their life. The oldest generation, the Narrator's parents, represent the older and more traditional culture. However, much like traditional culture in Japan at the time, they were slowly dying off. Their territory is slowly encroached on by modernity, and their numbers are shrinking. Both the parents and Sensei, the teacher, come into conflict with modernization, and both lose the battle for a more traditional …show more content…
Often, the characters are wondering whether Confucianism is better, or even comparable to, westernization. Some possible failings of Confucianism are also addressed. Confucianism engendered a less free society, and one that was more stoic than the world the Narrator is living in. However, Sensei isn't entirely sure if the his inability to address his emotions was a result of “Confucian teachings, or whether [he was] only being shy,” (pg. 188). Sensei is not, however, condemning the less liberal world of Confucianism, as he does not say what the true cause of his silence was. Emotional openness is not the only way Confucianism is less liberal than than the more western reforms though. Confucianism, particularly maintaining social order, seems to be a rather large influence when the Narrator's parents decide they must throw a dinner in his honor. Besides wanting to host the dinner solely based on the tradition of country feasts, the parents get rather angry when the Narrator responds that he does not want a feast, as the guests just want to “eat and drink. . . which might break up the monotony of their lives,” (pg. 87). Instead of discussing the issue, the parents decry the Narrator as “argumentative,” for not respecting the tradition. The Narrator also comes directly into conflict with one of the most important tenets of Confucianism, filial piety. As his father is on his
HS 105 D
Loyola University Maryland
Professor Diehl
2/6/2015
A Change of Heart Natsume Soseki's 1914 novel Kokoro is an extremely layered novel. While on the surface level, Kokoro is about complicated interpersonal relationships, a closer reading of it reveals some startling and widely apt symbolism. Kokoro isn't just focused on using deep human relationships as metaphors though, the novel retains an incredible humanity. The characters and relationships in the novel are both strong, believable characters with agency, and strong representations of Meiji-era struggles between tradition and western modernization. Western modernization was the seed of great change for the main characters and the classes they represent, representing …show more content…
The Narrator, a young man graduating from college, is undergoing a transition that is analogous to the major changes of the Meiji reform. He is young, and full or life, much like the modernization that was gripping Japan at the time; the rush to modernize was especially in major cities like Tokyo, where the Narrator spends the bulk of their time. The next age group, holding Sensei and K, are trapped in a battle between modernization and more traditional values. They seem to resist change, but they generally enjoy the amenities that come with westernization. They are, however, reserved about modernization. As a result of their reservations, they are eventually crushed by the loss of cultural identity and personal figures in their life. The oldest generation, the Narrator's parents, represent the older and more traditional culture. However, much like traditional culture in Japan at the time, they were slowly dying off. Their territory is slowly encroached on by modernity, and their numbers are shrinking. Both the parents and Sensei, the teacher, come into conflict with modernization, and both lose the battle for a more traditional …show more content…
Often, the characters are wondering whether Confucianism is better, or even comparable to, westernization. Some possible failings of Confucianism are also addressed. Confucianism engendered a less free society, and one that was more stoic than the world the Narrator is living in. However, Sensei isn't entirely sure if the his inability to address his emotions was a result of “Confucian teachings, or whether [he was] only being shy,” (pg. 188). Sensei is not, however, condemning the less liberal world of Confucianism, as he does not say what the true cause of his silence was. Emotional openness is not the only way Confucianism is less liberal than than the more western reforms though. Confucianism, particularly maintaining social order, seems to be a rather large influence when the Narrator's parents decide they must throw a dinner in his honor. Besides wanting to host the dinner solely based on the tradition of country feasts, the parents get rather angry when the Narrator responds that he does not want a feast, as the guests just want to “eat and drink. . . which might break up the monotony of their lives,” (pg. 87). Instead of discussing the issue, the parents decry the Narrator as “argumentative,” for not respecting the tradition. The Narrator also comes directly into conflict with one of the most important tenets of Confucianism, filial piety. As his father is on his