Earticle

초록

영어

This article examines Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent through the frameworks of the event and hospitality, drawing primarily on the theories of Jacques Derrida. Inspired by the real-life event known as the Greenwich Outrage, the novel extensively explores the buildup to the bombing and its far-reaching consequences through inventive narrative strategies. In its composition and reception, The Secret Agent exemplifies Derek Attridge’s concept of a literary work as an “event,” with both the acts of writing and of reading the novel constituting the event. In the process, Conrad juxtaposes Stevie, who serves as the novel’s ethical compass, with the British establishment. Stevie’s profound sense of sympathy is connected with the notion of unconditional hospitality, prompting him to react strongly against the injustice and inhospitality of the world, thereby catalyzing the events. His death underscores the impossibility of unconditional hospitality. Conversely, the British social elites practice a form of conditional hospitality. They remain merely tolerant toward social others; their tolerance aims to maintain social order and reinforce their dominance. Through such contrast, Conrad encourages readers to critically reflect on hospitality and the broader social issues at stake.

목차

I. Introduction
II. The Narrative Events in The Secret Agent and The Event that is The Secret Agent
III. Stevie and Unconditional Hospitality
IV. The British Establishment and Conditional Hospitality
V. Conclusion
Works Cited
Abstract

키워드

저자

• Sul, Ji Yun [ Yonsei University ]

참고문헌

발행기관

간행물

표지보기 관심저널 등록

• 간행물명

  영어영문학연구 [The Jungang Journal of English Language and Literature]

• 간기

  계간

• pISSN

  1598-3293

• 수록기간

  1968~2025

• 등재여부

  KCI 등재

• 십진분류

  KDC 840 DDC 810