앨리슨의 집(Alison’s House)에 나타난 등장인물과 공간에 대한 연구

Abstract

This paper examines aspects of characters and space in Alison’s House by Susan Glaspell. Alison’s house signifies a family steeped in traditions and cultivated aspirations. The play consists of 3 Acts, where the space of 1st and 2nd Act is the library of the house, and the one of 3rd Act is Alison’s room. All the characters of the play reminisces and recollects Alison who died 18 years ago. Even though she does not exist on stage, she is always with other people on the stage. On behalf of Alison, there is continual reflection from other characters. Thus, Alison’s house works as heterotopia, where present and past coexist on stage. The library, the main space for Stanhope, patriarch, plays the role of Power container. The space controls and makes people conform to its power and ‘habitus’, which is ingrained habits, skills, and dispositions. Alison, who loved a married man, had to give up this love and follow Stanhope’s order because of the family’s reputation. Love with a married man would have been disgraceful for the Stanhope family’s honour. This was habitus in 19th century and it was controlled by the space, the family house. Alison secluded herself in her room, but she endured and sublimated her agony and love in poems. She makes her room ‘chora space’, which is designated as pregnant and productive space for women.