다와다 요코(多和田葉子)의 『지구에 흩어져(地球にちりばめられて)』론 —인물 조형을 통해 나타난 커미트먼트—

Abstract

This study investigates the theme of commitment in the literary work “Scattered All Over the Earth” by bilingual author Yoko Tawada. The author has already portrayed a dystopian Japan with imaginative prowess in her previous novel “The Emissary.” Tawada’s awareness of contemporary issues is further explored in “Scattered All Over the Earth,” a novel which she published in 2018, wherein she demonstrates her commitment not only to Japan, but also to the rest of the world. Tawada depicts the image of a refugee through the character of “Hiruko,” who tries to communicate by means of the creation of a new pan-Scandinavian language. In addition, the author depicts the character of “Susanoo,” who leaves his homeland to avoid disasters caused by the re-operation of nuclear power plants and the resultant radiation pollution. In this manner, Tawada tackles the issues that emerged after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Her portrayal of “an Inuit character(Nanuuku)” and “an Indian character(Akassyu)” addresses the issue of discrimination. Besides the issue of discrimination, Tawada emphasizes the importance of linguistic communication through the resonance of multiple languages. Finally, the author underlines the perspectives of multiple languages and cultures, and, through her characters, delivers the message of commitment to coexistence as her literary responses to various global issues.