노(能)에 그려진 노녀들의 삶과 죽음 - 『桧垣』『姨捨』분석을 중심으로 -

Abstract

There are two works in Mugen-noh in which the heroine is an old woman: "Higaki" and "Obasute". This paper analyzes the elderly female heroine in the two works, and attempts to reflect on her life and death. In the case of the old woman in "Higaki," it is impossible, even though they suffered violently in the fires of Hell, to forget certain events that bloom in the twilight of life in this world. It can be said that she is facing a prime devotion to this certain event, and is showing a strong obsession that has overcome even the pain of death. Next, in the case of the old woman in "Obasute," she does not appear to have a violent obsession, such as the old woman of "Higaki," but is obsessed with the Pure Land fantasy. To overcome the fear of loneliness and death, she never failed to appear every time the August full moon shone. The content of their obsessions is slightly different, but the old woman who appeared in both works each have to overcome the fear of death. They can be said through the appearance of such, and communicate to the audience the message of strong attachment to life.