캐런 헤세의 『모래 폭풍을 지나서』를 통해 본 생명의 공존성 회복의 비전

Abstract

This paper examines the close connections between nature and human beings, between human beings in a community, and between human beings’ physical condition and their emotional state, through Karen Hesse’s book, Out of Dust (1997). It describes the harsh reality that farmers in Oklahoma, which was caused by the combination of the economic depression and the most destructive ‘natural disaster’ in the history of the USA, the so-called Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl resulted from human abuse of the farm plains, the removal of the grass, and the destruction of the natural environmental balance in the plains. This novel, written in the form of a diary, portrays how destructive the dust and drought were during that period, and how devastated farmers’ lives were, focusing on one main character, Billy, her parents, and their neighbors. While this book warns against people’s greed for short term profit and shows their blindness concerning the consequent disaster, it also demonstrates what makes people overcome those hardships, and how the main characters sustain their hope for life despite bitter mistakes and conflicts. Hope is found in the comfort derived from the forces of nature and from people's love and forgiveness for each other, even though nature and people are the very elements that cause the misery and scars in their lives. Nature and people are portrayed in contrasting ways. No matter how destructive and threatening nature is, it is a fundamental influence on people’s lives, and no matter how unforgivable and disappointing people (especially family members) are, they may be a source of great support. Suggesting the importance of the interdependence between nature and human beings, and also between human beings, this book describes these connections by drawing parallels between these four aspects: 1) the state of nature, 2) the state of people’s lives, 3) people’s physical and emotional condition, and 4) people’s relationships. This book implies that nature, human beings’ physical and emotional condition, and the health of the community, are closely related to each other. This is related to an ecological perspective, which perceives the relationship between nature and human beings as an organic whole, no longer regarding them as separate entities.