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Space and Love in the Movie <Lust, Caution>: A Study on the Symbolism of ‘Lust’ and ‘Caution’ through Spatial Meanings and Love

  • Journal of Chinese Language and Literature
  • 2024, (96), pp.37-62
  • DOI : 10.15792/clsyn..96.202408.37
  • Publisher : Chinese Literary Society Of Yeong Nam
  • Research Area : Humanities > Chinese Language and Literature
  • Received : July 20, 2024
  • Accepted : August 13, 2024
  • Published : August 30, 2024

seo joo young 1

1대구대학교 인문과학연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Ang Lee's film “Lust, Caution” is an adaptation of Zhang Ailing's novel. Zhang Ailing titled her novel “Spy, Ring” in English. Therefore, ‘色’(Lust) refers to Wang Jiazhi's identity and role, while ‘戒’(Caution) signifies the Chinese word for ring, ‘戒指’(jiezi). However, Ang Lee interpreted “色・戒” as “Lust, Caution.” By replacing ‘色’ and ‘戒’ with abstract terms rather than concrete objects, he expanded the interpretation of the film to include the conflict and transcendence of these values. When interpreted through the external meaning of the film's narrative, ‘色’ can be seen as Wang Jiazhi's seduction of Mr. Yee, and ‘戒’ as Mr. Yee's caution against this seduction. However, considering the setting of 1940s Shanghai and the relationships of those who lived in that space, the meanings of ‘色’ and ‘戒’ can be further expanded. This paper categorizes the spaces the two characters inhabit into personal space, social space, and fantasy space, and analyzes the characters' relationships within these spaces to understand the film's narrative structure and message. Specifically, it examines how the characters' desires relate to the dominant order of their respective spaces, how these desires are formed and fail, and how they attempt to escape the constraints of their spaces to pursue their desires and love. Through this exploration, the paper aims to uncover the thematic consciousness of the film as it relates to the relationship between space and the individual.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.