조셉 콘래드 소설의 공간과 인물 연구 - 『암흑의 핵심』을 중심으로

Abstract

This study analyzes the space of Joseph Conrads' novel focusing on The Heart Of Darkness. The space consists of three types; Europe/Africa, Asia, and the Sea, they are linked closely and dealt with the medium to control character's walk. The spaces are described as having individuality and independency, such conditions contain both social and political specificity. That's the reason Conrads' novel has a political feature. Europe is depicted as the space rooted in imperialism, characters are from Europe, so Europe is the space they form their ways to think as their fundamental footing. Europe means the producing center of imperialism, Africa is the space of shamanism mixed with insanity from vast natural environment, primitive civilization and imperialism. It is based on both innate and acquired features by Europeans' invasion of Africa. Asia is depicted as having more potentiality than Africa although they are similar in a natural environment as well as culture. Unlike Africa, Asia is the affirmative and ideal space overcoming imperialism, the Sea in Conrads' novel is a powerful space. It makes connection between lands but is safe from the influence of the lands, So it is in neutral. In such a space, characters reflect on themselves beyond the effect of space. According to the main theme, the spaces are selected among four and this makes the various combination of space. That's the reason the space of Joseph Conrads' novel is complicated in spite of only four kinds of space. Joseph Conrad's how to use spaces in a novel is meaningful to a Korean novel. Korea experienced the colonialization of Japan, and still is under the influence of the United States Of America's military, economical, and cultural aspects. Also, the space in Korean novel has become smaller gradually by industrialization and urbanization. Therefore, it is crucial for Korea's novel to study Joseph Conrads' way to use spaces to enhance the political and social views of spaces and stimulate the prosperity of spaces.