멜빌과 근대적 주체성의 문제

Abstract

Critical reflection and revaluation of the modern age coalesced into an outlook popularized as ‘postmodernism’ in the latter half of the twentieth century. ‘Modern project’ viewing history as the triumphant progress toward a utopian society, was based on the newly-formed concept of the human subject in the Age of Enlightenment, that is, the free, rational subject. So critiques of ‘modernity’ includes the skepticism about the idea of the modern subject. The opponents of ‘modernity’ contend that in historical reality, the modern subject turns out to be partial and oppressive, identifying itself with white, western, middle-classed male and excluding, and subjugating others. So they insist on the necessity of the destruction of the limited concept of modern subjectivity and the creation of a new concept of subjectivity, including the hitherto neglected parts. This paper examines some of Melville’s works in relation to the issue of modern subjectivity. His novels prefigure our age’s doubt about Cartesian subject viewing the others only in terms of I-It relations and show incessant efforts to rebuild a new kind of self which overcomes the limitations of modern subjectivity. Faced with the circumstances that no sooner is a new notion of identity proposed than it is incapacitated, fettered and nullified by the repressive social forces, Melville moved on and on to the next stage, experimenting with a new idea of selfhood. Finally, Melville proposes subjectivity conceived of as something neither totally self-constituting, nor fully socially-constituted; neither absolute nor arbitrary; both refusing the rigid Cartesian categorization of subject-object, and also rejecting the ‘postmodern’ fragmentation and dissolution of self. I think this concept of self, both constituting and constructed, and mutually dependent and supporting, like ‘Siamese twins,’ sheds meaningful light on our current groping for a post-Cartesian theory of subjectivity.