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Chan Young Lee

Professor Anri Yasuda
JAPN 3112
24 February 2015
Kokoro
Just like its title, Second Thoughts on Kokoro by Dennis Grafflin made me to rethink
about the Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. I thought Dennis Grafflin did great job of giving
readers deeper insights of the reading. However there are some aspects of the article which
was very difficult to understand and I thought author was pushing some of his points little too
hard. At the same time, there are many good points that he made which helped me to think
more deeply about the materials he talked about. Grafflin opens his article by making a broad
statement that everyone generally agrees on. When Grafflin is making a common consensus
that Kokoro is considered one of major work of Soseki and how it is important literature in
Japan, it provides common ground for reader. It also makes readers wander what other points
Grafflin is going to bring.
In the beginning Dennis Grafflin gives other scholars idea which is different than his
own. For instance, Grafflin mentions scholars such as Ueda and Miyoshi to show how they
praise the novel as a whole, but criticize characterization of Kokoro. However, point that
Grafflin is making in his article is that characterization is not the important part of the book.
It is my argument that in this essay that novel is a study of the disintegration of the
personality of its main character, an analysis developed through the themes of doubling,
repetition and recollection. Soseki, with great technical skill, exploits the structure of the
serialized novel to create a work of extraordinary psychological insight. (Grafflin 147). It is
true that by taking a closer look at psychological insight of Kokoro, we find out interesting

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insights. When author mentions dual movement of recollection and repetition, he mentions
Sensei and Ks relationship. Just as he is a piece of Senseis mind/kokoro, so is his name a
fragment of mind: K(okoro). Some of my classmates thought Grafflin was just pushing it
little too hard, but I thought it was interesting.
I am not going to deny the fact that psychological aspect is important part to take a
look when reading Kokoro. However, question that I want to ask is, how can Grafflin
conclude that psychological aspect is the most important aspect of the novel? When looking
at any kind of readings, I think it is important to find authors purpose in his or her writing.
Yet, it is not always possible to find authors purpose in all writings. I think this is the reason
why readers should not easily conclude authors purpose in writing is this or that. I think
readers often make a mistake of interpreting reading as they like. For example, lets say I am
going through depression and I read Kokoro. I might want to think that Kokoros main theme
is depression and how author was trying to illustrate how depressing is it for a person to go
through depression with character, Sensei. If I am a person who is struggling with my inner
sin, I might think that I should apologize to others after finishing the book. There are many
other circumstances which readers might interpret the book as they wishes, not necessarily
according to authors intent.
I really enjoyed first part of the Kokoro. There was no big trouble or event that I have
to re-read or think about it more deeply. Main characters meeting with Sensei at the beach,
and main characters student life and two characters interaction was peaceful. I thought
student life now and hundred years ago was not much different. In addition, picture of two
characters reading on the bench and having conversation was very vivid as I was reading
through the novel. Lastly, as main character returned to his hometown because of his fathers
sickness, it made to think about the life and the death. However, as I was reading through

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Senseis letter, I found myself struggling to finish the reading. He had a lot to say. I do
understand that it was a letter that he wrote before he was about to die. I thought myself, it I
was not reading a book, but received a letter that is that long, I thought it would be somewhat
uncomfortable for me to read all of it. However, towards the end, there were many twist and I
thought it was interesting to see how Sensei was telling the character main causes for his
suicide. More than ten days have gone by since I decided to die. I want you to know that I
spent most of the time writing this epistle about myself to you. At first, I wanted to speak to
you about my life; but now that I have almost finished writing this, I feel that I could not have
given as clear an account verbally, and I am happy If my story helps you and others to
understand even a part of what we are, I shall be satisfied. (Soseki 127).
Personally, part that was most appealing to me was the whole concept of what is right
and what is wrong. For Sensei, was it right for him to suicide and leave his wife behind, and
was it right for him to suicide in the first place? For main character, was it right for him to
leave his ill father? It is clear that one of the biggest reasons why Sensei decides to suicide
was because of his guiltiness. Yet, he decides not to tell his wife anything before he dies. I
dont think he realized all the pains that his wife have to went through.
People are different and that is reason why some people like particular novel and
some people do not. This is also reason why some people interpret the reading in their own
ways. I do not believe there is right answer for what interpretation is right. But at the same
time, I am not saying everyone should interpret the way they wish too. Overall, Dennis
Grafflin did a great job of giving us much deeper insight on the novel.