坪内士行のガートルードとオフィーリア

──帝劇『ハムレット』（一九一八）における〈自然さ〉をめぐる試み──

抄録

This paper analyzes Shiko Tsubouchi's interpretation and depiction of Gertrude and Ophelia in the text and on stage from the viewpoint of ‘naturalistic’ representations in his Hamlet in 1918. The concept of this production was based on Shiko's idea that Japanese people should perform Western plays reflecting Japanese people's ‘natural’ behavior; he called this way of acting ‘naturalness’. Shiko rejected ‘realism’ because he thought it was a simple imitation of Western culture without criticism or consideration.

In order to show ‘natural’ women for Japanese audiences, Shiko portrayed female characters in Hamlet according to Japanese ideals of the time such as a ‘good wife and wise mother’ or an obedient maiden and cast women in female roles. However, there was active debate about the chastity of actresses at that era, therefore actresses appealed for their faithfulness rather than their sexual fascination. This tendency was another factor encouraging the Japanization of female characters in Hamlet.

This study shows the importance of this production as a starting point where Shiko attempted to portray ‘natural’ women in ‘natural’ acting for Japanese audience. This attempt started from denying the ‘realism’ of imitating Western cultures and encouraging the imitation of ‘natural’ in Japanese culture. However, his ‘natural’ style equated to the general meaning of ‘realistic’ style in the end.