Dualities In Kokokoro

Dualities are a major aspect of the book Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki. In his novel, he compares numerous things that are often oppositional, like the ways of westernized Japan against the traditional ways of Japan, or aspects of the city versus the country. These dualities are often the more obvious ones. Though there are other dualities in the story which are more subtle, such as passion versus intellect or sincerity vs cunning. Sōseki uses these dualities bring to life to his characters and his story. The stark contrast of the traditional Japanese ways versus the new modern ways is used frequently in the story. One example of this contrast being the narrator's father and Sensei. The narrator compares the two whenever he gets the chance.
Sensei also discusses the standing of students in society. He tells the narrator that during his time as student people respected the students and thought of them as honorable individuals as they mostly came from upper class families. Though he says that students are no longer seen as those respected people due to the inclusion of almost anyone, thanks to the Meiji Era. Sōseki portrays this contrast in view of education and the place of students throughout the novel. He does this to convey the changing times of Japan, specifically the traditional views which are losing ground to those that are more modern and capitalistic or western. Alongside these changing views is the contrast of the countryside versus the big city. Which also contrasts the modern way of things against the traditional way. Sōseki has both the narrator and Sensei come from the countryside and move to Tokyo for schooling. The country and the city often clash for the narrator, ”Whenever I thought about Tokyo, I felt the blood that pumped strongly through my heart pulsing to a rhythm that cried ‘Action! Action!” (47). He yearns to go back to the fast paced lifestyle of the city rather than stay with his parents in the country. This is because he finds the country to be too slow