|
''Clockwork'' (also called ''Clockwork, or All Wound Up'') is an illustrated short children's novel by Philip Pullman, first published in the United Kingdom in 1996 by Doubleday. It was first published in the United States by Arthur A. Levine Books in 1998. The Doubleday edition was illustrated by Peter Bailey and the Arthur A. Levine Books edition was illustrated by Leonid Gore.〔(''Clockwork'' ), Phillip Pullman.com.〕 It was shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book Award and for a Carnegie Medal in 1997.〔(Philip Pullman ), contemporarywriters.com.〕 Pullman has stated that the novel was inspired by an old clock in London's Science Museum.〔 Inspired by the movement of the clock's gears, he wrote the story with elements that move in opposite directions.〔Portillo, Michael, 2004-03-29, (Saved by a song ), ''New Statesman''.〕 == Major themes == ''Clockwork'' is an exciting, suspenseful fairy tale written in an ironic and amusing style. It has a strong moral message.〔Thacker, Deborah Cogan, Jean Webb, 2002, ''Introducing Children's Literature: From Romanticism to Postmodernism'', Routledge, ISBN 0-415-20410-0.〕Pullman uses the literary technique of parallel authorial commentary, similar to Rudyard Kipling in ''Just So Stories''.〔Hunt, Peter, 2001, ''Children's Literature'', Blackwell Publishing, ISBN 0-631-21141-1, p. 114.〕 He uses the idea of clockwork as a metafictive device, comparing the interrelated plot elements to the elements of a clock's mechanism.〔 Pullman provides a moral critique of contemporary Western culture in ''Clockwork''. It is a metaphor for the idea that humanity has been sacrificed as society has become more mechanised. Prince Otto's clockwork heart is a direct allusion to the famous quotation from Thomas Carlyle's 19th century essay "Signs of the Times": "Men are grown mechanical in head and in heart, as well as in hand". The essay was a warning to Victorian society about the dangers of industrialisation and capitalism. Pullman's novel has a similar warning.〔 The author also takes the moral position that fulfilment cannot come solely from dreams, and needs dedicated hard work allied with inspiration to be achieved. Karl makes a Faustian bargain with Dr. Kalmenius because he wants an easy way to fulfil his ambition. The Faustian allusions are made clear when Sir Ironsoul becomes murderous when the word devil is mentioned and can only be stopped by a special song.〔 The novel also has allusions to Mary Shelley's ''Frankenstein''. Fritz's story comes to him in a dream, similar to how Shelley experienced the writing of her novel. Dr. Kalmenius can be compared to Dr. Frankenstein as he seeks the secret of life and is prepared to make a monster to do this.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Clockwork (novel)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|