러일전쟁기 일본 지식인의 초상 - 나쓰메 소세키의 문학과 러일전쟁과의 관련성을 중심으로 -

Abstract

Soseki predicted in the lecture titled "The Trend of the Postwar Literary World" that Japanese people's pride and self-awareness would grow and that literature would advance against the backdrop of Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War. He stated, "Japan's victory in the war is not only in the dimension of power, but also possible to obtain huge changes in the psychological dimension of Japanese people." Indeed, Soseki's prolific nature during the postwar era was evident in his literary trajectory, which started during the height of the Russo-Japanese War. When it came to the events that transpired during his lifetime—the Meiji and Taisho periods—Soseki set out to depict the "truth." With his astute understanding of history, he confronted the appearance of <Japan> and gave serious consideration to the role of <intellectuals> during the chaotic postwar years. His belief was that Japan's <modernization> should be the "true modernization," emphasizing that it should be voluntary, autonomous, and creative, with Japan as the subject, as opposed to "extrinsic modernization," which was the focus of Western power. As a true writer, intellectual, and thinker of modern Japan, Natsume Soseki demonstrated in his works how to be a <intellectual> who could respond to and cope with the challenges of the times.