『죽음의 한 硏究』에 대한 신화비평적 고찰 -죽음과 재생의원형적 모티프를 중심으로

Abstract

This paper aims to look into the motif of death and rebirth in A Research of Death by myth criticism. A Research of Death contains protagonist's mental inquisition about 'death' which is the fatal condition of a human being. This novel also reads the true meaning of all religions which present the methods to free ourselves from the fear of death through mythological imagination. In particular, this novel asserts that most of myth and religion describe the death as a rebirth to overcome the limit of man as a mortal being. To study this truth, the protagonist who is a buddhist monk considers symbols of death & rebirth which are founded in Buddhism, Christianity, alchemy, Indian Tantra, anthropology, primitive myths and The Tibetan Book of The Dead. And he testifies that he has spiritual awakening by choosing and accepting willingly his death. In conclusion, the protagonist of A Research of Death shows a mysticism in his physical life, a Shamanism in his existent space, an image of Jesus in his lifetime, and a world of the Zen in his stage of awakening.