폭력의 시대: 노예 톰의 비폭력적 저항 (The Age of Violence: Uncle Tom’s Nonviolent Resistance)

서지정보

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· 저자명 : 김이은

초록

This paper attempts to read Uncle Tom by focusing on his nonviolent resistance. Uncle Tom is one of the more distorted characters due to misrepresentations in popular play productions, vaudeville skits, minstrel shows and films. Uncle Tom has been criticized particularly by the Afro-American critics because of their claim that his obedience has solidified and perpetuated the white supremacy and the institution of slavery. This paper, however, argues that Tom’s nonviolent resistance should neither be considered docile nor reconciled to bondage against his will as he subjects himself to his white masters. In other words, Tom’s resistance can be considered more as an active protest against unfair violence rather than passive submission to brutality. Slavery contains within itself violence, thus intensifying numerous sectional, political, social and domestic conflicts. Instead of a revolutionary black hero to overturn the violence-ridden society, Stowe creates an obedient Uncle Tom full of self-discipline, sacrifice and communal love. Under the extreme violent circumstances, only Tom’s nonviolent resistance can break the vicious cycle of persistent violence and move the wicked, despaired and brutalized people into action. However, by depicting the appalling death of this saint-like Tom, Stowe draws the attention of the readers to the absurdity of slavery, which defines a dignified human being as a marketable property by dismissing values such as faith, motherhood, love and nonviolence.

영어초록

This paper attempts to read Uncle Tom by focusing on his nonviolent resistance. Uncle Tom is one of the more distorted characters due to misrepresentations in popular play productions, vaudeville skits, minstrel shows and films. Uncle Tom has been criticized particularly by the Afro-American critics because of their claim that his obedience has solidified and perpetuated the white supremacy and the institution of slavery. This paper, however, argues that Tom’s nonviolent resistance should neither be considered docile nor reconciled to bondage against his will as he subjects himself to his white masters. In other words, Tom’s resistance can be considered more as an active protest against unfair violence rather than passive submission to brutality. Slavery contains within itself violence, thus intensifying numerous sectional, political, social and domestic conflicts. Instead of a revolutionary black hero to overturn the violence-ridden society, Stowe creates an obedient Uncle Tom full of self-discipline, sacrifice and communal love. Under the extreme violent circumstances, only Tom’s nonviolent resistance can break the vicious cycle of persistent violence and move the wicked, despaired and brutalized people into action. However, by depicting the appalling death of this saint-like Tom, Stowe draws the attention of the readers to the absurdity of slavery, which defines a dignified human being as a marketable property by dismissing values such as faith, motherhood, love and nonviolence.

참고자료

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