박경리 <토지>의 공존의식 연구 -존재론적 다원주의 관점을 중심으로-

초록

This paper examines Park Kyong-ni’s novel, Toji(Land), exploring themes of coexistence across class divisions, relationships with adversaries, and interactions with non-human entities through the lens of ontological pluralism to reveal the author’s worldview. In Toji, narrative dynamics unfold through the intricate interplay of characters whose desires intricately weave with one another, prompting existential reflection. The narratives of Seo-hui and Gil-sang, and Song Gwan-su and Yeong-seon-dac, illustrate how marriages rooted in class differences generate conflicts that extend beyond their immediate context, intertwining not only contemporary but also subsequent generations, simultaneously deepening the characters’ ontological awareness. In examining adversarial relationships, Seo-hui’s narrative captures her transformation as she relinquishes revenge, seeking reconciliation with past traumas and bitterness. Additionally, the entangled paths of Yu In-sil and Ogata blur traditional boundaries between enemy and ally, thereby illuminating pathways toward mutual coexistence. Moreover, Gil-sang’s nurturing of non-human beings and the narrative of a cholera epidemic depict human and non-human interactions not merely as backdrop elements but as pivotal events reshaping human destinies. By elevating non-human entities to crucial narrative agents, Park Kyong-ni expands the conceptual boundaries of coexistence, profoundly integrating non-human dimensions into the tapestry of the narrative. In sum, Park constructs a narrative network emphasizing coexistence across class, adversaries, and non-human entities through ontological perspectives. Rather than merely resolving conflicts, the narrative triggers ontological contemplation by intertwining characters’ experiences with events and other beings. Park’s narrative strategy is grounded in her understanding that the tensions and ontological harmonies emerging from these entanglements constitute both the essence of life and literature. By reading Toji through the lens of ontological pluralism, this paper challenges familiar perceptions of humanity and the world, presenting new possibilities for literary interpretation through multilayered ontologies.

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