『アデンまで』論 - 作品の構造を中心に -

Abstract

Endo Shusaku won recognition and stands unchallenged in Modern Japanese Literature. He was consistent in metaphysical religious subjects from the age of 18, when he wrote “Metaphysical God Religious God”, to the age of 70, when he wrote “Deep River” which is his posthumous work. Accordingly, most of the proceeding studies about his works have been focused on his intention as a writer and religious issues which Endo Shusaku, a Catholic, wanted to talk about in his works; therefore, the logic and characters in his fiction have not been dealt with thoroughly yet. In this thesis, I placed great emphasis upon the literary works as art so I tried to exclude a Christian study method. The structure of his works and the works themselves are analyzed here in a narrator way (katarite) that has been settled as today's literature study method. In “to Aden”, I paid attention to the structure of the work that progresses focusing on reminiscence and the present point of time. The significance of the work, especially as his first work is researched, inquiring into racial prejudice and a sense of racial inferiority.