『킴』에 나타난 자아탐색과 구원

Abstract

Rudyard Kipling was born in India in 1865 and spent rather a long period there, so he can be regarded as a writer acquainted with Indian Culture, languages and life. He embodied his understanding and interest in India in Kim. But revealing the negative aspects of Kim, some critics have pointed out Kipling's viewpoints as a racist and an imperialist disguised behind a plausible appearance. On the other hand, some have praised him for his works which are likely to incarnate Kipling's experiences and understanding in India, so are great works aesthetically. In other words, Kipling not only wrote about India but he was a part if it. To portray the real aspects of India, Kipling is focusing the growth of Kim from childhood to manhood, orphaned in early age and learn how to get on in the world to be most worldly. Though being a sahib, Kim is more likely to be an Indian as he was born and grew in Indian cultures. He fails to find out his identity as a sahib and a fanciful chosen hero in the course of the journey with the lama. Though he was for some time attracted to the fact that he is a sahib, he could not entirely deny his identity as an Indian. His true identity, however, arisen by a self questioning "What is Kim?" is the lama's chela. It is clear that the lama occupies a very crucial place in the design of the novel. It is the lama who embodies the ideas and tenets of Buddhism as practiced in Tibet. He has searched for spiritual values and his final destination in seeking truth is the Salvation River. But he realizes the limit of his truth seeking through the mutual relationship with his chela Kim. He realizes the secular world and spiritual world are not different but one thing composed of variations, so can not be divided. Therefore, he refuses to enter the state of bliss or spiritual enlightenment. He realizes God is within us not without. Among the important symbols in Kim, Grand Trunk Road outstands as the most significant. It is a space where Indian people's dynamic and pulsating life is expressed. It is a place where Kim grows to be a youngman physically and spiritually. The Road, therefore, becomes a symbol of his Becoming - from childhood to manhood. Seen as a secular and confounding world, the Road is at the same time a worldly and spiritual place as the Road and River are the two aspects of one, indivisible reality. Controversial novel as Kim is, it is a great work embodied Kipling's understanding of India who loved Indian people's life and well shown Eastern values and spiritual world. Kipling is expressing the meaning of harmony and 'Midway' which doesn't divide things through Tibetan Buddhism.