Time and Space of Carnival in Botchan

Abstract

Botchan is a carnivalized literature. An analysis of chapter 9 and 10 reveals the conditions for carnival in Botchan. The conditions are that there must be official statements, withdrawal of authority, slapstick violence, and diverse voices. These conditions make Botchan a carnivalized literature. And the place of narrative is also carnivalized. The voice of Ore, the narrator of Botchan is heard as one of diverse voices. There is time and space of carnival in the place of narrative. Botchan is filled with a carnival sense of the world (Bakhtin).