하디의 점진적 사회개선론: 과학과 신앙의 변증법

Abstract

It is hardly deniable that Hardy wrote very pessimistic poems. But, against the critics' repeated regretful note on his almost uniform grimness, Hardy explained that the alleged ‘pessimism' is, in truth, only ‘obstinate questionings’ in the exploration of reality, and is the first step towards the soul's betterment, and the body's also. He rejected the term pessimism, insisting that he was only ‘a harmless agnostic’ or ‘an evolutionary meliorist,’ implying a hope that conditions in the world must improve as our human conscience and intelligence develops the spirit of charity, or ‘loving-kindness’ as he often called it. He thought if there is a way to a better life it should be started from looking full-facedly at the worst situation with an eye of ironical perspective. In order to understand Hardy's poetry more properly and put him in his due place in the history of modern English poetry, we have to read his poems more comprehensively enough to perceive a dichotomy, or rather a dialectic, between two impulses in his mind. Throughout his long literary life, he tried to amalgamate dialectically, his emotional attachment to the Christian tradition and country lore on the one hand, and his inclination to accept the contemporary thinking of such Victorian philosophers and scientists as Darwin, Newman and Huxley on the other.