나쓰메 소세키의 문명비판에 대한 고찰 - 『그 후』와 「현대일본의 개화」를 중심으로 -

Abstract

Natsume Sōseki was concerned about modernized civilization not only in his novels but also in his reviews and lectures; moreover, he diachronicaly reflected the characteristics of the modernization of Japan and prescribed cures for the resultant side effects. Sōseki's literary works on the subject are his so-called "criticisms of civilization." This thesis looks into how the elements that criticize civilization, mentioned in his lecture The Enlightenment of Modern Japan, appear in his novel And Then. Natsume Sōseki expressed his deep concern in his lecture the Englightenment of Modern Japan, which he gave in 1911, that the civilization Japan was going through was not self-directed, but rather mimicking that of others, lacking its own identity. And Then talks about the social events which actually happened at that time, making the story of the novel more realistic. Japan won both the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, and as a result, capitalism was taking place rapidly. In the meantime, the collusive ties between politicians and businesses became common practices, and emerging were the negative effects of mammonism and corruption which can be easily spotted under an immature form of capitalism. Sōseki looked squarely at the phenomenon and, using various devices, portrayed it in his work. On top of that, he considered it to be one of the most important factors of a critical mind that money power can be a tool to take over the human mind. In regards to his treatment of the critical mind, as portrayed in Karl Marx's Das Kapital, he pays special attention to the power of authority and money that can take over human souls as well as both the human mind and one's sense of morality. The author warns people that when power is abused, society becomes chaotic and will inevitably have to face danger. Natsume Sōseki, through his lectures and works, laments the civilization of Japan led by the outside force and worries that it would deteriorate the mental health of the Japanese. Furthermore, it can be said that the writer shows his concern to the fact that capitalism in Japan, accepted as part of the modern system, gave birth to the collusive ties between politicians and businesses and drove the society to mammonism, where materialism is dominant.