カズオ・イシグロのゴシック・モードとハイアート

概要

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In Kazuo Ishiguro's "A Pale View of Hills", recollections of post-war world in Nagasaki are revealed by a decent Japanese woman Etsuko. She speaks as if communicating simple facts, but the mysterious situations or the Gothic mode unfittingly used in this story insinuates concealed tragedy or repressed feelings. Her commonplace post-war hardship and the unusual atmosphere that surrounds her successfully cover up what lies behind. But when a slight incongruity is found in Etsuko's narrative, repressed memories are given expression. In this story, the focus is placed on something that is slightly different from familiar facts. The Gothic mode employed in this story is of use to construct the international novel that Ishiguro wishes to develop. Faint unusualness that is distinct from dramatic unfamiliarity is important for this achievement. By tactfully betraying unusual parts of a plain woman little by little, Ishiguro creates a story that can be accepted by many readers, and also maintains the originality that gives the story a trait of high art.
2012-12-25