이형기 시에 나타난 허무의식과 주체의 쇄신 -『寂莫江山』,『돌베개의 詩』,『꿈꾸는 旱魃』을 중심으로 -

Abstract

Nihility emerges at the point where the existing world becomes meaningless. Hence, it is possible to say that nihility foreshadows the advent of a different world and prepares for a different desire. Ultimately, the function of nihility is to renovate the mode of existence of the poetic subject. Therefore, rather than limiting the signification of the nihilism by simply regarding it as the outgrowth of the poet's recognition of the world, it is necessary to focus on the functional aspect of nihilism, acting as the starting point of the renovation of the poetic subject. Lee's first three collections represent three phases of his nihilism, each of which is accompanied by the renovation of the poetic subject's mode of existence. In each collection, transformation of the attitude of the poetic subject, constructed as a result of the poet's reaction to nihility, occurs alongside the shifting of the connotations of nihility. In the first collection, nihilism appears in the form of ‘emotion,’ a feeling of lack or loss. The poetic subject overcomes the nihility by strengthening the inner world through rearranging the emotions and desires towards ‘maturity.’ In the second collection, the nihility separates from the inner world and shifts to the recognition of the outer world in earnest. The poetic subject in the second collection recognizes the essence of the world as an empty time and space of nihility, and reveals himself as Der Einzelne, not leaning on any transcendent value. By the third collection, nihility expands to a stronger recognition of the meaninglessness of the world. A poetic subject with a new aspect is created while actively overcoming this meaninglessness. ‘Nihilization,’ the mechanism of a paradoxical process, i.e. creation through denial and destruction, becomes the core driving force for the creation of a new world and the renovation of the poetic subject. Thus, the transformation of the poetic subject occurs together with the shifting of the connotation of nihility. This suggests that the discussions about nihilism should start from investigating in detail the relationship of the poetic subject and the outer world. The connotations of nihility can be expanded by deviating from abstract discussions that treat nihility only in terms of the theme of a given poem, and by revealing different significations of nihility emerging from the poet's recognition of the world and elucidating the type of poetic subject that is constructed in the process.