Natsume Sōseki’s Affective Theory of Literature Compared to C. T. Winchester’s

Some Principles of Literary Criticism and Leo Tolstoy’s What is Art?

Abstract

　This paper attempts to clarify the basis of Natsume Sōseki’s affective theory of literature as expressed in his Theory of Literature (1907, Bungaku-ron) and Literary Criticism (1909, Bungaku-hyōron) by comparing it with two texts that influenced it: C. T. Winchester’s Some Principles of Literary Criticism (1899) and Leo Tolstoy’s What is Art? (1898, English translation by Aylmer Maude).

　It is not believed that Winchester and Tolstoy influenced one another, but their theories nevertheless have a common feature: both emphasize the important role of human feelings or emotions in literature and art. According to these theories, the essence of literature and art is that the feelings or emotions expressed by the author or artist affect readers or auditors. This paper calls theories that place a high importance on feelings or emotions expressed in literature and art “affective theories.”

　Sōseki’s literary theory shares the affective element with the theories of Winchester and Tolstoy, in that Sōseki stresses strongly that the “emotional factor” is indispensable to all literature. However, this paper argues, Sōseki was also conscious of the limitations and aporias of affective theory, as shown in particular by his critical reception of Tolstoy’s What is Art? This paper concludes by suggesting that Sōseki’s literary theory should be given its rightful place in both the history of modern Japanese literary discourse, as well as Western-centric views of the history of criticism as an important perspective on feelings or emotions in literature and art.