존 스타인벡의 『불만의 겨울』: 포스트모던적 접근과 자연과의 연결성
John Steinbeck’s The Winter of Our Discontent: Postmodern Approaches and Connectedness with Nature
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The aim of this study is to examine and analyze John Steinbeck’s last novel The Winter of Our Discontent(1961) through postmodern approaches and ecocriticism. In fact, although this novel has not received much recognition on a critical level and has focused only on the moral theme of the novel, it has been neglected on the postmodern and ecocritical aspects. Therefore, this paper examines how human connectedness with nature is a postmodern phenomenon about the identity crisis and disintegration, alienation, and the regression of morality. In this context, nature asserts that it is a place and refuge for humans from the rapidly changing capitalism and consumerism of America. In this paper, I argue that this novel emphasizes Steinbeck’s ecocentric perspective which destabilizes the dichotomous notion that humans are superior to nature on the premise of interdependence that controls the relationship between humans and the environment. Here, the main character Ethan’s ontological figure, who seeks to find a collapsed identity and tries to escape from moral backwardness, forms one ontological structure within the typical postmodern literature text. In conclusion, I argue the link between postmodernism and ecocriticism and studied that Ethan’s attempt to establish a connectedness with nature affects the impact of postmodern isolation, identity crisis, and moral erosion.
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine and analyze John Steinbeck’s last novel The Winter of Our Discontent(1961) through postmodern approaches and ecocriticism. In fact, although this novel has not received much recognition on a critical level and has focused only on the moral theme of the novel, it has been neglected on the postmodern and ecocritical aspects. Therefore, this paper examines how human connectedness with nature is a postmodern phenomenon about the identity crisis and disintegration, alienation, and the regression of morality. In this context, nature asserts that it is a place and refuge for humans from the rapidly changing capitalism and consumerism of America. In this paper, I argue that this novel emphasizes Steinbeck’s ecocentric perspective which destabilizes the dichotomous notion that humans are superior to nature on the premise of interdependence that controls the relationship between humans and the environment. Here, the main character Ethan’s ontological figure, who seeks to find a collapsed identity and tries to escape from moral backwardness, forms one ontological structure within the typical postmodern literature text. In conclusion, I argue the link between postmodernism and ecocriticism and studied that Ethan’s attempt to establish a connectedness with nature affects the impact of postmodern isolation, identity crisis, and moral erosion.
참고문헌 (21)
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