「나의 안토니아」 에 드러난 희극적 삶의 비전

The Comic Vision in Life in My Á ntonia

This paper explores the comic vision in life in Willa Cather’s My Ántonia. In contrast to the tragic figures who try to oppose to and compete with life, the comic selves tend to float like a raft through their fate. First, this paper speculates on the characteristics of comic vision of life. This essay defines comic sense of self in three main characteristics, that is, a flexible way of thinking, a liberating epiphany of cosmic consciousness, and a humble submission toward the life. As opposed to hard and rigid way of thinking, comic vision tends to reflect on the relationship of self and community and adjust their way of thinking ceaselessly. They also speculate on the universal law and try to follow it. Lastly, they obey to the force of life, knowing that human life is limited. The main character, Ántonia from a poor immigrant family, faces hardships from her early years. However, she doesn’t lose her faith and lives a life full of growth and love. Ántonia’s flexibility makes her a bridge between her Bohemian family and American society. Her plastic vision for life enables her to overcome mistakes which could have leaded her to a disaster. Her cosmic sense of universal law makes her to concentrate on relationships in her community. Finally, she leads a life of meek compliance toward the stream of life. Looking into My Ántonia through this way could offer fuller meaning of the main characters who have been evaluated mainly in feministic perspective so far.