소세키(漱石)텍스트에 나타난 제국주의적 시선－『만한 여기저기(満韓ところどころ)』와『문(門)』을 연계하여－

Abstract

This thesis examines Natsume Soseki’s imperialistic attitude in his novel 『The Gate』 and his travelogue 『Journey to Manchuria and Korea』. These two books belong to different genres but were written consecutively. 『The Gate』 being a novel has ways to conceal the writer’s unconscious orientation toward imperialism; however, 『Journey to Manchuria and Korea』 is more illuminating as it reveals the writer’s true voice. The itinerary of 『Journey to Manchuria and Korea』 was cautiously and meticulously planned by the South Manchuria Railway. Therefore, it appears that Soseki was expressing Japan’s views on the management of its colonies and the enterprising spirit of the Japanese people. This view can be regarded as congruent with the imperialistic ideology that Japan was pursuing. We find Japan’s version of Orientalism in Soseki’s considerations of Manchuria and Korea, which were Japan’s colonies. Differences were interpreted in terms of superiority and inferiority. This view greatly influenced the formation of Japanese consciousness. Soseki is an intellectual figure who represents early modern Japan, a time that laid emphasis on morals. In his critical essays and lectures, he stressed balanced judgment. His writings, however, display his view of Manchuria and Korea, which is defined by the dualistic counterposition of civilization and barbarism. 『The Gate』 also distinguishes Japan from its colonies, employing the same dualistic view. This leads to a discussion that justifies Japan’s colonizing of those areas. The colonies in Soseki’s texts are places of opportunity where those who failed to join the newly rising capitalistic system moved to. Soseki avoided dealing with the imperialist period that he lived in. His texts, however, could not conceal his unconscious bias.