『無尽燈』論 -「草菴」の意味について-

Abstract

Starting with “Ogondensetsu” which Jun Ishikawa published right after World War II, and followed by“Meigetsuyu” and “Kanro,” “Mujintou” was published in July 1946 in “Bungeisyunju.”Unlike the usual “despair to revival” pattern, in this work, for the first time he uses ‘Souan’ todistinguish society as a place for observing and understanding mental effort.The protagonist’s guilt forthe war and the effort to how he will move on has been shown in “Ogonodensetsu,” and the work“Marusunouta” has shown a strong objective to war.This literature work also takes place during thework and centers on war criticism.However, in here, despite war criticism and a spirit of defiance, it ismore about how ‘Souan’ works in the author’s literature. ‘Souan’ is a place for the spirit that understands the generation and the society, and ‘Pleurisy’ is givento oneself to actualize the concept.In other words, ‘Souan’ and ‘Pleurisy’ are inseparable guiding how theprotagonist should live the world and actually putting in action.Also, it talks that if politics and powerunreasonably overpowers over the citizens, then one should be aware and maintain eternal mental lifestruggling through the way. Such mental struggle that the protagonist held is in contrast to his wife ‘Yumiko’ who is pro-war andbelieve in victory-as someone who is not aware of the generation and society lacking spirit andmind.With no other reason, it was obvious that he broke up with her. “Mujintou” can only be seen from the perspective of how if the protagonist tries to know howbeautiful human mind works, spirit should immediately fight with matter, and at last conquer it.Mindworking is always faster than the movement of matter.Mind goal is supposed to be more sophisticated aswell, therefore it can be said that this literature was a success.The protagonist suffered from ‘pleurisy’ onpurpose, won the war mentally by writing an observation journal, proposing he will continue his strugglethrough Japanese society after World War II. Therefore, ‘Souan’ plays as an important style of writing in Jun Ishikawa’s literatures, leaving“Mujintou” on the direct spot to describe Ishikawa’s lifelong writing career.