<論文>チェーホフの「新しい生活」の表象について --『いいなずけ』を中心とした試論--

Abstract

This study delves into the recurring themes found within Chekhov's later works, specifically the emergence of a hopeful “new life”, a departure from the preceding life order. We concentrate on Chekhov's final piece of prose, “Betrothed”, scrutinizing the portrayal of the “new life” through the lens of the narrative structure of the work itself. The initial chapter of this study tracks the modifications in the storyline, characters, and content of the narrative, and their implications on the Chekhovian motif of “escape”, which represents a character's desire to abscond from their current circumstances. In the process, it illuminates how the conceptualization of the “new life” progressively became less distinct as revisions were undertaken. The second chapter hones in on the portrayal of the past in “Betrothed”, scrutinizing how the protagonist's departure in the story entails a detachment from the past embodied in the characters surrounding her. This analysis is contextualized by contrasting it with the representations of the characters' present and past in “A Boring Story” and other works. The third chapter shifts attention to the manifestation of the “new life” as seen in “A Visit to Friends” and “A Doctor's Visit”, reinterpreting this theme from the standpoint of human aspirations intertwined with biological evolution. Through this comprehensive analysis, this study endeavors to construct a theoretical framework to better understand Chekhov's approach to depicting the future and the past.