Kusamakura · Question
How does Kusamakura develop the theme of Modernity vs. Tradition?
Answer
Kusamakura by Natsume Sōseki develops Modernity vs. Tradition across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
The narrative contrasts the quiet, traditional rural life with the encroaching modern world, symbolized by the railway and war, which disrupts the idyllic, poetic existence the narrator seeks.
The tea party discussion includes Chinese antiques and Japanese calligraphy, while the war and Western painting represent modern intrusions.
The railway train is explicitly critiqued as a symbol of 20th-century civilization that crushes individuality, contrasting with the traditional river boat journey.
Evidence in the book
- VIII
The tea party discussion includes Chinese antiques and Japanese calligraphy, while the war and Western painting represent modern intrusions.
- XIII
The railway train is explicitly critiqued as a symbol of 20th-century civilization that crushes individuality, contrasting with the traditional river boat journey.