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Natsume Soseki is indisputably considered to be one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century in Japan. His well-known novel “Kokoro” was published only two years before his death. The title of the book might be interpreted as “heart, or the heart of things.” (Toshiyuki, 213).The captivating narration of Sensei can not leave the readers indifferent, as well we the way, how the author plunged them into the world of old traditions and views and contrasted them to the modern ones.
There are several techniques, successfully applied by the author, for making his writing unique and outstanding. In order to make his story sound real and persuasive the author doesn’t use many names, the readers don’t know the real name of Sensei, his friend is called K., the narrator is hardly referred to. The beginning of the novel is rather simple, as a narrator tells about the first moment of meeting with Sensei, when having a summer holiday in Kamakura. When the narrator goes to the beach to swim, he noticed a man, who attracted attention due to his type of swimwear, which was close to the one local people have. In spite of the simple descriptions and usual tone of the narrator, it becomes immediately clear to the readers, that the relations between the narrator and Sensei are vitally important for the novel’s plot and theme. The narrator is the one, who is seeking the friendship of the old man. Sensei can easily understand the wish of the young man to find an experienced person, who is able to give sustainable pieces of advice or provide guidance and interesting companionship, actually a person, who can not be found among his fellow students. This idea is expressed in his words: “You came to me because of some lack you sensed, didn’t you?” (Soseki, 4).The communication between the narrator and Sensei develops further, more and more is known about the story of Sensei, about his views. Rather interesting position of Sensei is related to trust – he says – “In any event, you mustn’t trust me too much” (Soseki, 158). Here he wants to underline, that nobody should completely rely on somebody’s experience and ideas, because we are all unique individuals and have to make our own choice and develop our own ideas.
The novel is split into three main parts with different names. The first part was called “Sensei and I”. It is written from the position of the student, who is traveling to have good holidays and suddenly meets a friend. As soon as the holidays end, they both return to Tokyo, the old man – to his wife and the student- to his studies. When he graduates from the college, he faces a difficult choice- where to find a job.
In the second part of the story, which was named – “My Parents and I” – the narrator travels to his family on graduating from the college. His father is about to die, because of a hard disease. His parents are really concerned about his future job and suggest asking Sensei for help. They are really surprised to know, that Sensei has no job.
The last part of the novel actually presents the testament of Sensei, which he wrote in his letter to his younger friend. Finally the readers have the chance to know, why Sensei lost trust in other people, and about his feeling of guilt, which was following him all his life. His final decision is to commit suicide, because he constantly felt his personal responsibility for his friend, who committed suicide, after Sensei proposed to the same girl, he fell in love with.

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Nowadays, such a decision would certainly seem not normal. People are used to hurt each other, even close friends do and in the best case they say “I am sorry”. Living in the modern world, we could hardly appreciate the actions of Sensei and would admire his strong will, strong personality and his deepest sense of responsibility for somebody else. We are used to the fact, that nowadays teenagers commit suicides because they are in love with a pop start or think, that their life is not worth living, because they drank too much beer and so on. Sometimes mentally sick people also commit suicides. But Sensei was mentally healthy, adult person, who took such decision. For him this is the only way to improve his mistake, to bear the responsibility for the events of the past, which tormented him all his life. In the young student, Sensei wanted to find a listener, who could help him to get rid of his ballast of guilt and at the same time to give his last lesson to his young friend about the importance of keeping and supporting of the human relations and the deepest respect of everybody’s feelings, irrespective of any circumstances.
Overall, we have briefly analyzed the great novel by Natsume Soseki “Kokoro”. This is a highly emotional and psychological writing, having one of the key themes concentrated on the transition of the old culture to the new cultural traditions and beliefs, reflected first of all in the very fact of close friendship between Sensei and the narrator and certainly in the way of thinking and treating things by Sensei.

 
Works cited:

Soseki, N. Kokoro. Gateway Editions, 1957

Toshiyuki, T. “Natsume Soseki”. The New Arthurian Encyclopedia, New York: Garland, 1991