손창섭과 사카구치 안고(坂口安吾)의 전후(戰後)소설에 나타난 실존과 본질 - 여성인물의 타락과 그 의미를 중심으로 -

Abstract

This paper compares stories of Son Ch’ang-sŏp and Sakaguchi Ango, who are represent postwar literature in Korea and Japan, to explore an aspect of human nature and values in postwar period. This study focuses on the similarity of these writers’ thoughts that create imagery of depraved characters. As Son and Sakaguchi’s postwar literatures illustrate corrupted human and degenerated society, this study analyses images and the meaning of decadence in their stories; ‘An Idiot’(1946), ‘Where’(1946), ‘The War and a Woman’(1946) of Sakaguchi Ango; ‘Living’(1954), ‘The Unsolved Chaper’(1955), ‘Lost Dream’(1956) of Son Ch’ang-sŏp. Son and Sakaguchi’s postwar stories have consistent structural feature in common; an impotent man and a corrupted woman have a weird relationship and the man has doubt about values of life and human nature through the corrupted woman. The existential doubt and agony about life and being in Son and Sakaguchi’s stories are typical as postwar literature. However, the obsession about seeking human nature and essential values makes their works special and different to other existential literatures in postwar period. Also, Son and Sakaguchi’s stories show similar problem; male characters in their stories reveal egoism that suggests objectification of woman. In spite of some contradictions, Son and Sakaguchi’s postwar literatures are significant. The writers not only depicted irrational situations in postwar realities, but also tried to explore human nature beyond existential situations, and show that human chases decadence naturally, through their works. At last, this study expects to be meaningful in terms of indicating aspects of postwar humanity and values by comparing similarities in thoughts between Korean and Japanese writers who persisted to inquire essentials in the era of existentialism.