초록 열기/닫기 버튼
A new approach to novel characters starts from understanding the characters not as separated individuals but as relationships. This study labeled this approach to characters ‘relational approach.’ This study examined critically the limitations of flat characters/round characters and the typical characters of the theory of realism. As all of these theories understood characters as independent beings, they were not able to grasp relationships among the characters or the roles of the characters in the narrative structure. This study paid attention to what relationship is formed by the personalities exhibited by main and minor characters. For this, it used the concepts of ‘will to power’ and ‘productive desire for life’ suggested by Nietzsche and Deleuze. Depending on the amount of power exercised by main and minor characters, a different power relationship appears: (1) main characters>minor characters; or (2) main characters<minor characters. (1) is a monologic character relationship in which a main character with strong personality utilizes minor characters as a tool of self‐growth. This type of relationship appears in monologic novels as in <The Square> where the voice and world view of the main character dominate the entire story. (2) is a dialogic character relationship in which a passive main character meets strong minor characters and observe their words and behaviors. This type of relationship is found in dialogic novels as in <Petit‐bourgeois> where the heterogeneous values and behaviors of various characters are exhibited.
키워드열기/닫기 버튼
main character, minor character, will to power, monologic relationship of the character, dialogic relationship of the character
