I cracked open this beloved Japanese literary classic a couple of days ago, and was quickly drawn in to a story that's much more compelling and intriguing than it appears on the surface. I was expecting Kokoro to be a leisurely, low-stakes narrative but it almost feels like a psychological drama-thriller at times. The two parallel stories of the unnamed protagonist and Sensei are fascinating, peppered with a deep, thorough understanding of a very particular type of male psyche. I found the exploration of the characters' disillusionment and sense of displacement, as well as their anger and cynicism, deeply resonant. The way it ties into the larger fabric of Japan's history, and specifically the transition from the Meiji era into a more modern society, was fascinating.
Ultimately though it's just a very human story. It's a portrait of two men feeling lost in the world and looking for some type of direction, guidance and sense of meaning. They search for that elusive meaning in their education, passions, family and women, only to be left adrift whether it's due to their own personal failings or the confusion at the changing world around them. They seek connection in like-minded people, in themselves, but that doesn't seem to work either. As with a lot of Japanese literature, it's rather sad and melancholy and offers no easy answers.
Really liked this one and will be exploring more of Soseki's work.
by keepfighting90
2 Comments
This sounds like something I’d really enjoy. Thank you!
the meiji/modern tension is what makes soseki so hard to shake. he lived through exactly the transition he’s writing about — born in edo japan, died in taisho — so there’s this undercurrent of autobiography to the disillusionment that characters like Sensei embody. not just a literary device, but something he actually felt.
if you’re exploring more of his work, Sanshiro is a good next read. same sort of young man adrift in a modernizing world, but lighter. then I Am a Cat if you want something more satirical. kokoro tends to be people’s favorite though, which says something.