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Kokoro Summary Essay Example
The author of Kokoro develops a theme of loneliness through the first-person point of view by using the narrator’s eyes to show that both of the characters, including himself, lack companionship. Through the narrator, signs of loneliness can be demonstrated within both of the characters in the story, which contributes to the overall theme of loneliness throughout the story. Natsume Soseki shows that Sensei is lonely by introducing his personal life from the narrator’s perspective. “Sensei had told me that he spent most of his time at home…he disliked to go out.”
Sensei’s home life is displayed through the narrator’s eyes, contributing to the theme of loneliness by showing that he doesn’t get out much and most likely has little to no friends. The narrator is established with introverted and lonely characteristics by the author. “I managed to enjoy myself, dozing on the beach or splashing about in the water.”
His personality leaves him unbothered when nobody he knows about doesn’t talk with him. Still, when his friend suddenly leaves the trip that he insists the narrator goes on, he’s suddenly disappointed. “I, who had taken so much trouble to join my friend, was left alone.” His friend had left him to go back home even after his idea of a trip had just begun. Sensei and the narrator equally contribute to developing the theme of loneliness with the loss or absence of each of their friends.
“I saw Sensei again the next day…The Westerner never showed himself again with whom he had first come.” Sensei was first spotted in the story with a friend. After the first encounter with Sensei, the friend was never seen again. “I went there at the insistence of a friend of mine…and it was only three days after my arrival that my friend received a telegram from home demanding his return.”
The narrator also experienced what Sensei experienced when his friend who had insisted on him coming to Tokyo with his left. The absence of their friends left them lonely. The author of Kokoro uses the narrator’s point of view to show how each character develops a theme of loneliness. Each of the characters displays introverted characteristics and shows a lack of companionship. From the narrator’s perspective, both he and Sensei equally contribute to the story’s theme of loneliness.
