『설국』에 나타난 나방의 이미지와 고마코

The Image of Moth and Komako Depicted in Snow Country

本稿は『雪国』に出てくる昆虫のなかで特に‘蛾’の描写に焦点を合わせ作者の意図を分析したものである。島村の視線からして女主人公の駒子は蛾のイメージと重なっている。作中に、蚕、蛾(特に蚕蛾)、繭蔵などの用語が度々登場するのは、作品の背景である新潟県湯沢が養蚕の盛んなところで、そこに滞在しながら執筆した作者の経験に基づいていると推定される。前半で駒子は、蚕を飼っていた部屋に住んでおり、‘蚕のような透き通る’肌を持つ女として描写されているが、後半に進むにつれ徐々に変質し、蛾の特性が色濃く投影される。蛾は胴体がふっくらとしている反面、羽は小さくて軽々と飛ぶことは難しいが、灯を求めてしきりにもがく姿が熱情的に生きている駒子の暮らしと彼女のふっくらとした肉体に照応している。反面、‘悲しいほど美しい’声の持ち主である葉子には‘鳴く虫’のイメージが投影されており、最後に繭蔵で死を迎え、肉体性を持たない。このように、󰡔雪国󰡕では昆虫を通して二人の女性が対照的に描かれながら、生と死の美学が奏でられている。特に駒子には󰡔源氏物語󰡕の｢鈴虫｣以来賞美されてきた‘鳴く虫’の美学とは異なる肉感的なイメージが与えられており、徐々に肉体の虚無へと繋がっていくと見られる。

This paper explores an authorial intent by focusing on, especially, moths among the insects that are important subject matters in Snow Country. Shimamura, the male protagonist, views Komako, the female protagonist, as intertwined with the image of moths. Set in Yuzawa, Niigata, a region known for its silkworm farming, the novel frequently shows the term such as silkworms, moths (especially silkworm moths), and cocoon warehouse, etc. And it is assumed that the story is based on the author Kawabata’s experience of moths’ ecology during his visit to the area. At the start of the novel, Komako is described as having transparent skin, like that of a silkworm, due to her living in the room where silkworms are cultivated. As the story proceeds to the middle part, her image gradually evolves to include reflections of moths. Moths are known for their plump bodies and small wings, which limit their ability to fly and cause them to struggle in pursuit of light. This is juxtaposed with Komako’s vibrant life and full figure. We can discover a sensual element through the usage of moths, which contrasts with the aesthetic of auditory insects such as ‘Suzumushi’ of The Tale of Genji. In contrast, Yoko, a character with a beautiful voice, is associated with the image of a classical ‘singing insect,’ and she dies in a cocoon warehouse. As demonstrated above, Snow Country showcases a variation in the aesthetic of life and death, contrasting two women by employing insects.