전우익 수필의 생태문학적 의미

Abstract

Born in 1925, Jeon Woo-ik published three collections of essays until his death in 2004. Research on his works was found only in fragmentary papers published in technical magazines. This study thus set out to investigate ecological literary meanings manifested throughout his essays that had not received spotlight due to the academic climate of neglecting essay research. He had a lot of realizations, planting trees and plucking grass. He reminded readers of the need for each member of the society to help each other in a life of rejecting artificial human standards and breaking sweat. He warned people against getting obsessed with only visible parts and lost in old customs and remains and hoped that they would move toward a positive future by overcoming their wounds. He led a frugal and poor life, and his will for such a life was reflected in his essays, in which he expressed the significance of a house built loosely with materials from nature and the spiritual abundance allowed for a person whose only possession was a satgat. He thus emphasized that a frugal life itself was an expression of awe and gratitude for nature and made readers open their eyes to saving water as guarding the essence of human beings. He criticized modern people that blindly jumped on the wagon of reckless development and scientific and technological civilization. He reported on the reality of mountains, rivers, and seas being destroyed recklessly and warned people against such destructions that would eventually lead to their own destruction. He also criticized people's beliefs in material civilization including the pursuit of fashion, disappearance of nights, and negligence of life. In his essays, Jeon expressed the diverse values that ecological literature should seek after in honest ways based on his real life. His works can be an example of ecological essays.