A Study on the Nineteenth Century American Discourse Shared in American Renaissance and Opening of Japan

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26370344
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Literature in English
• Research Institution: Kyoto Sangyo University
• Principal Investigator: NAKANISHI Kayoko 京都産業大学, 文化学部, 准教授 (10524514)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: アメリカン・ルネサンス / ナサニエル・ホーソーン / 日本開国 / マシュー・C・ペリー / 19世紀アメリカ言説 / 文学的想像力 / 海軍言説

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigated the nineteenth century American discourse shared in American Renaissance and the opening of Japan. Nathaniel Hawthorne and Matthew C. Perry had a certain connection through maritime affairs, to which researchers have paid little attention. This study clarified biographical facts of Hawthorne's social relationships with the U.S. Navy, and Perry's literary tastes acquired from his family environment. These backgrounds led to both sharing a naval discourse and literary imagination peculiar to maritime America. This affords a better understanding of Perry's endeavors of employing music and theatrical performances as a disciplinary device on board and "his chief cultural weapon" for opening Japan, later requesting Hawthorne to compile a record of the expedition. The results of this present study have been published in four academic conferences and two journal articles. An essay collection and translation projects are in progress.

Free Research Field

アメリカ文学