재미한인 문학의 생태문학으로서의 가능성: 임혜신 시를 중심으로

Abstract

This article aims to learn about the possibilities as ecological literature by examining Lim Hye-Shin's poems. Living in Florida where state-of-the-art material civilization and the beauty of primitive ages are co-coexisting, Lim Hye-Shin has been writing poems with extraordinary sensitivity. Her poems show the complementation of the lonely and isolated human being, the anxiety about the future, and the origin of human being. Most of persons appeared in his poems are neglected or abandoned in desolate environments. The nature rarely appeared in the place where they live. Nature is only revealed when combined with the intimate contemplation of the poet. Whether deliberately or unconsciously, the poets shows that human being and nature are separated. Those who appeared in her poems live their bleak and sicken lives away from the nature without knowing why they should do. The poet calmly, sometimes paradoxically, portrays the isolated and anxious lives of the modern humans, and tries to overcome the current bleak life and anxious future through inquiring the fundamental human existence that go beyond the limits. By doing this, the poet's contemplation reaches a symbolic space, 'the forest'. 'Forest' is a universal and fundamental reason that encompasses space and time of the beginning and the future. The 'forest' is unknown, scary and mysterious place to human reason, a space of healing and rebirth. It is also the permanent space for death and birth cycle. Thus, the poet seeks to recover again the vitality of origin and peace by repeating the act goes into the forest. Lim Hye-Shin leads the reader to participate in contemplating the reality we face rather than directly criticize that. So should that reflect on our lives. Also, she does not unconditionally advocate or praise the nature. By showing infinite vitality and beauty of nature, the poet leads us to think what we have lost and what we need to recover.