자연의 목소리―실코의 이야기꾼을 통해 본 자연의 영적, 공동체적, 치유적 기능

Abstract

This article examines the spiritual, communal, and healing functions of nature in the Native American worldview as represented in Leslie Marmon Silko’s Storyteller. Silko does not portray nature as a mere backdrop or resource, but rather as a foundational source of identity and belonging for Native peoples. Nature is imbued with ancestral presence and serves as a spiritual grounding through which individuals reaffirm their cultural identity and their ties to the community. Furthermore, Silko depicts nature as a sentient and emotionally responsive entity, emphasizing the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world within an ecological community. This worldview implies a moral responsibility to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature, reflecting a form of ecological ethics. Nature also emerges as a powerful agent of healing in the face of human loss and suffering, offering psychological and emotional restoration. Through Storyteller, Silko articulates a Native ecological consciousness that challenges modern alienation from nature and prompts a rethinking of the human-nature relationship. Her work ultimately calls for a shift in perspective that recognizes nature not only as sacred but as essential to human well-being and ecological balance.