Soseki learns more about Sensei through his wife, Shizu and his knowledge and feelings for her grow as well.

Often Soseki is confused and disappointed by Sensei's words and believes the older man's perceptions of him incorrect. Sensei believes Soseki has sought him out because he is lonely, but himself unworthy of society and unable to help the younger man. Soseki is a young man bored with life when he befriends Sensei. Kokoro is a tale that gets to the heart of the loneliness, fear, and guilt that accompanies love, individuality, and betrayal. Only when Sensei decides to end his life does he decide it is time to pass on his testament. Though Soseki and Sensei develop a close friendship, Sensei's life remains a mystery. What Soseki does learn is that Sensei is a troubled and reclusive man who does not trust himself or humanity enough to interact with the world. Soseki befriends an older man he calls 'Sensei' with the expectation of learning about life. It is the story of many individuals who long to appease loneliness, and the story of two men who attempt to assuage loneliness through love but only find peace in death. GradeSaver, 22 June 2015 Web.Kokoro is a story of one young man searching to fill a void in his life. Next Section Glossary Previous Section Kokoro Summary Buy Study Guide How To Cite in MLA Format Lin, Alexander. The motherless son of a Buddhist priest, K is an extremely idealistic, determined, and indifferent young man who has been Sensei's friend since the two were young. 'Okusan' is the polite form of address for someone else's wife. Sensei calls her by her name, Shizu but in the context of his story she is called 'Ojosan,' which is the polite form of address for 'young lady' or 'daughter'. Sensei's Wife / OjosanĪ very beautiful woman whose seemingly simpleminded nature belies her strong emotional intuition. The Narrator's MotherĪ kindly and simpleminded country woman. The Narrator's FatherĪ pleasant and simpleminded old country man who is suffering from kidney disease. He hints of his dark past, but never reveals it. Although he is weary of the world in general, he becomes a mentor of sorts for the narrator. SenseiĪn enigmatic man who lives a reclusive and idle life with his wife.

Youthful and earnest, he is drawn to Sensei but feels alienated from his family. The unnamed narrator, a well-off young man from the countryside, attends university in Tokyo.

Kokoro by natsume sōseki