염상섭과 진화론 - 염상섭의 초기 텍스트들을 중심으로 -

Abstract

The paper finds out the features on evolutionary theory found in Yeom Sang-seop’s initial literary theory, and re-read “Mansejeon” based on it. To do this, it is needed to review his text in early days. He suggests ‘type of papers comparison’ in “Personality and Art”. Through this, he insisted that papers of western world and Joseon both have common ‘personality’ and ‘life.’ According to such a logic, as western papers and Joseon papers, countries which colonize and being colonized should have the same value as they both have a common life. Based on such a statement, submitted notions of ‘personality’ and ‘life’ of him are something devised to overcome evolutionary thinking which can be summarized as ‘dominance wins while recessive lost’ and ‘the survival of the fittest.’ The other writing, “For the supreme good” which was published later also took on similar reasoning. From this, he discussed Nora’s condition who is under control of patriarchy and a condition of colonized nation which is under control of empire on the same layer. He has read the face of colonized Joseon from ‘Nora’ whose personality was not respected enough in the house, and thought that if Joseon’s independency was to be secured, the spirit of self-revolution or establishment of personality, like the one Nora went through, was needed. He, as a starting point to criticized empire, colonization and subordination, tried to discuss of family issue in modern days and the words ‘personality’ and ‘life’ mentioned here were used as predicative to overcome dichotomy of dominance and subordination, the strong and the weak, and the winner and the loser. The notion of ‘personality’ and ‘life’ are also highlighted in "Mansejeon". The novel meticulously illustrates colonized Joseon (and its people) which struggles to survive on the biological sense in the world of the survival of the fittest and the ultimate voice he wanted to achieve is ‘personal’, ‘life’ and ‘awakening.’ These notions are newly emerged ones only after Joseon under evolutionary condition, was confronted and criticized. Also they are submitted to re-call the Independence Movement which eliminated the times of ‘grave’ that was ruled by ‘dominance wins while recessive lost’ and ‘the survival of the fittest.’