청교주의와 유다이즘의 관점에서 솔 벨로우 다시 읽기

Abstract

Rereading Saul Bellow from the Perspectives ofPuritanism and JudaismYoung-ae YiThis paper aims to reread Saul Bellow from the perspectives of Puritanism and Judaism. Until now Puritanism has been considered somewhat negative. It certainly deserves a better status. It is also necessary to reconsider Puritanism in the positive perspectives such as humanism, moralism, family union, and asceticism. I argue that the discontinuation of Puritanism brings about alienation, the loss of ethical moralism, family deconstruction, and sexual perversion to the heroes in Saul Bellow's work. In most of his novels, the heroes transcend despondent situations through Judaism. In Judaism, "Absence of relation" means "the lack of direction toward God." They make it possible to recover "self," to bring family together, and to have selflessness through Judaism.Bellow places importance on the harmonious life with other human beings. In Bellow's work, individualism causes alienation to the heroes and oppresses them. Second, ethical moralism is one of the most important themes. Bellow demonstrates his concerns about the absence of moralism in modern men. Because of the absence of love, his main characters experience destruction of family. Finally, sex is one of the indispensable elements between male and female, but it alone does not make consummate love perfect. Modern men lie in crisis because they want to fill their inner desire with sexual satisfaction. Puritan and Judaic traits Bellow employs in reinforcing his themes are clearly revealed in his work.