엔도 슈사쿠(遠藤周作)의 『숙적(宿敵)』론

Abstract

EndoShusaku is a catholic literary writer representing Japan. Endo's works include different genres and stories represented by serious literature works such as 『The Ocean and Poison』 and 『Silence』, popular novels, and some of the historical fictions. From his first historical fiction, 『The Last Martyr』 to his last one, 『A woman』 he left many works for about 35 years of long period. However, studies about his works have been so farlimited to the serious literature genre and have not paid any critical attention to the historical fictions. Therefore, I would like to contemplate one of his historical fictions, 『The Old Rival』 which could provide a fresh perspective to the study about the author. 『The Old Rival』(Volume 1 and 2) is a historical fiction serially appeared in the 「Monthly Kadokawa」 from 1983 to 1985. It describes rivalry between Doyotom iHideyoshi's two servants, GonishiYukinaga and Gato Giyomasa. Different from Dakayama Ukon who gives up everything to keep his faith, Yukinaga shows treacherous obedience by secretly following his faith against Hideyoshi to whom he promises to forsake it. Gonish iYukinaga was too ambitious to obey God. However, even when he does not depend on God, God was always by his side. ‘Throughthe good and evil as well as joy and frustration of our life, God eventually leads us to the way to salvation.’ We can learn it from the life of Gonishi- Yukinaga. Once someone had a belief, the person can never get away from God, so did Gonish. Endo's literature theme involves God's companionship, forgiving weak human beings from their wrongdoings and saving them as true believers.