침묵과 은유의 아포리아로서 장애의 언어적 재현 양상 비교: 마크 해던의 『한밤중에 개에게 일어난 의문의 사건』과 J. M 쿳시의 『마이클 K의 삶과 시대』

Abstract

This research paper explores the representation of autism in Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and John Maxwell Coetzee’s Life & Times of Michael K through the lens of Mikhail Bakhtin’s dialogic theory. Both novels feature protagonists whose disabilities are central to their experiences and interactions with the world around them. Using Bakhtin’s concept of dialogism, which emphasizes the multiplicity of voices and the relational nature of communication, this paper analyzes how the protagonists’ unique modes of perception and expression shape their interactions with other characters and the broader social environment. By examining the dialogic nature of their language, the paper argues that these characters’ disabilities are not merely individual traits but are integral to the larger discourse of identity, communication, and social inclusion. In doing so, it explores how language functions as both a barrier and a bridge in representing disability and how these novels challenge conventional narratives surrounding autism and communication. Through a Bakhtinian framework, this analysis sheds new light on the intersection of language, disability, and social interaction in contemporary literature.