『유정』에 드러난 사랑과 욕망의 문제 연구

Abstract

In Lee Kwang-Soo’s novels, ‘love’ always includes elements that exceed the love itself. This is especially true in a sense that the inner feeling of so-called love is directly related to the problem of laying the foundation of ethical status of people. Considering the position of Lee Kwang-Soo, a nationalist and an illuminati, the goal of his narration is relatively clear. Every sentimental motive is the denouement of 『Moojung』 that converges into the national cause, but it clearly shows in the ending of 『Yoojung』 where the death of a main character returns back to the community in the form of guilty conscience. However, the problem is that ‘symptomatic’ points that cause difficulties in understanding the texts of Lee Kwang-Soo as a single keyword as ‘people’ and ‘enlightenment’ is still remained in these works. This study will particularly investigate the ‘symptom’ around a full-length novel 『Yoojung』 which was published serially in《Chosun-Ilbo》 in 1933. The purpose of a narration by ‘Choi, Seok’ in 『Yoojung』 is the moral influence or repentance of what his innocent death will cause in the community. He becomes the sacrificial lamb himself and returns back as a debt that should be paid back to the people who drove him into a corner. However, bizarre behaviors of ‘Choi, Seok’ in regards to the private inner feeling as love contain problematic points that cannot be restored precipitately. An interesting fact here is that ‘Choi, Seok’ meets a certain narcissistic desire in his behavior of undertaking a sin that he has not committed. He makes a crime himself by choosing to love ‘Jung Im’ truly than complaining of a false charge. And constructs the process of mortification for overcoming the sin of so-called passion as the desire that gives impetus to his own life. As said, the narration of 『Yoojung』 is clothed in the enlightenment of community, but ironically, the base driving principle is the expression of the innermost desire.