Comparing Letters In Kokoro And Frankenstein

Belyaeva Anastasaia
12/10/14
Comparing essay about letters in Kokoro and Frankenstein.
The authors Natsume Soseki and Marry Shelley use fictional epistolary method of writing stories, meaning to write some of the novel in letterform. The letters in both “Kokoro” and “Frankenstein” allow characters to express themselves, however the purpose of letters are different. In Kokoro, the letter is about Sensei’s confession about his life story, which gives the reasons of Sensei’s previous odd acts. While in Frankenstein, letters are mainly foreshadowing. In Shelley’s book, letters establish the themes of the book and we could see different perspectives of Frankenstein. Whereas in Soseki’s book, letters invert the story and gives us only Sensei’s view

of the world.
In both books, the protagonists, Sensei and Victor Frankenstein, convey themselves through letters.

Books that are base on letters tells the audience that they will share something personal. It gives some sense of realism in both novels. In Kokoro, Sensei tells the narrator about the relationship with K and his personal view on this situation. Sensei wants to share something personal only with the narrator. As Sensei writes in his letter to the narrator, “To you alone, then, among the millions of Japanese, I wish to tell my past” (Soseki 128). Sensei trusts the narrator and expresses himself through letter. He does not want anyone else to know about his past. In the end of his letter, Sensei says, “I want you to keep everything in secret- even after I myself am dead” (Soseki 248). Sensei discloses his secrets and conveys himself through letters. Correspondingly, the book Frankenstein starts with four letters that Robert Walton writes to his sister. In seventeens century, during Frankenstein period, letters were the only way to send the information secretly, without witnesses. As Robert Walton writes in his letter to Mrs. Saville “I have no friend” (Shelley 19). Walton could share his personal life only with his sister, for that reason he writes letters to her and describes what happens to him during his voyage. Both protagonists share empirical thoughts to their close friend or relative that makes letters valuable and

precious.
Natsume Soseki transposes the protagonists in the book.

While it originally look like the unnamed narrator is the central character, through the letter, we see that that narrator exists primary to apprise Sensei’s story. In the beginning of his letter to narrator, Sensei point out, “When I read your letter –your last letter to me –I realized I had done wrong” (Soseki 127). Soseki indicates that the reason why he is writing his letter is because narrator composes the letter to Sensei. It interprets that the narrator helps Soseki to write that letter. At the same time, only narrator could assist Sensei to indite his letter. Sensei mentions, “In truth, if there had not been such person as you, my past would never have become known, even indirectly, to anyone” (Soseki 128). Without knowing narrator’s story, we would not know the reason why Sensei wants to write his story life. In addition, Sensei wants to teach someone, as he declares, “I think you, who wish to grow, may learn something from my experience” (Soseki 128). It shows that he wants to leave a piece of knowledge from him before he will die. Because of Sensei letter, we could see that narrator is not a main character. His stories is just an introduction to Sensei’s

letter.
Frankenstein’s letters play foreshadowing role during the book. Walton’s letter describes events that will happen later in the book. In the end of Walton’s expodition
at the distance of half a mile; a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge and guided the dogs. We watched the rapid progress of the traveler with our telescopes until he was lost among the distant inequalities of the ice.
After that, when Walton meets the stranger, that is Frankenstein, foreigner says, “You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been” (Shelley 13). Outsider warns Walton that his ambition for science may get him into troubles. That reveals that Frankenstein’s creation of life was an achievement, however had a bad ending.