|
''Kazohinia'' is a novel written in Hungarian and in Esperanto by Sándor Szathmári (1897 – 1974). It appeared first in Hungarian (1941) and was published in Esperanto by SAT (Sennacieca Asocio Tutmonda) in 1958, and was republished in that language without change in 1998. Several Hungarian editions appeared over the decades (1946, 1957, 1972, 1980, 2009), and an English translation in Budapest in 1975 (Corvina Press). In 2012, this translation first received wide distribution outside of Hungary with its publication by New Europe Books under the title ''Voyage to Kazohinia''—in keeping with the more descriptive titles of the novel's early Hungarian editions, including ''Gulliver utazása Kazohiniában'' (Gulliver's Travels in Kazohinia; 1941) and ''Utazás Kazohiniában'' (Travels in Kazohinia; 1946), and with the title of the Esperanto edition: ''Vojaĝo al Kazohinio.'' ''Kazohinia'' is a utopia/dystopia modelled partly on ''Gulliver's Travels'' by the Irishman Jonathan Swift, and therefore pertains to both utopian and travel genres. ==Plot and interpretations== As in the Gulliverian prototype, the premise is a shipwreck with a solitary survivor, who finds himself in an unknown land, namely that of the Hins, which contains a minority group, the Behins. Accordingly, this work by a Hungarian writer relates not so much to Swift's work, but more precisely to ''Brave New World'' by the British writer Aldous Huxley. As in that work, there coexist two dissimilar, segregated societies, one developed and the other backward. The Hins are a people who have solved all economic problems: Production and usage of goods is based on need instead of money, and the standard of living is impeccable. The Hins live without any kind of government or administrative body, as their belief is that such would only hinder production. They lead their lives according to the "pure reality of existence," which they call kazo. They experience no emotions, love, beauty or spiritual life. There are two primary interpretations of the author's intentions: * Although the theme can be seen as a criticism of developed society, where highly progressive invention goes hand in hand with the loss of human feelings, Dezső Keresztury, the writer of the epilogue of the Hungarian edition〔(POSTSCRIPT of Szatmary's Kazohinia )〕 stated that this is not what Szathmáry intended. Rather, he created the Hins as the ideal society that occupies itself with the "real" stuff of life instead of phantasms such as nations, religion, and money, that, regardless of intentions, cause people considerable misery. * Another interpretation is that the author satirizes both human society and communist utopias – which, in his assessment, lead equally to such disastrous consequences as massacres.〔(Kazo, documentary movie, 1997, directed by: Zsigmond Gábor Papp ) ((about the director) )〕 The protagonist, bored with the inhuman life of the Hins, chooses to live among the insane Behins, who reportedly conform better to his outlook on life. He hopes that, living in a walled-off area among the Behins, he will meet others with human feelings. The Behins, however, occupy an irrational society in which living conditions are supported by the ruling Hins while they themselves are preoccupied with what to the protagonist seem to be senseless ceremonies and all too frequent violent brawls. The Behins deliberately arrange their lives in such a way as to turn reality and logic on their heads, while among the Hins everything is arranged according to reality. While living among them, the protagonist suffers hunger, extreme misery, and even danger of death. This part of the novel is in fact satire, with each insanity of the Behins translating to facets of the Western, Christian society of the protagonist such as war, religion, etiquette, art, and philosophy. To further emphasize the satire, the protagonist does not see the obvious parallels between his homeland and the Behin world. Later, however, the writer underscores this irony by having a Behin leader and a British admiral articulating the same irrational philosophy. The Behins are indeed "real" humans, but as their symbols and customs are superficially different from his own, the protagonist regards them as mere savage madmen. 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「Kazohinia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|