유치환의 만주시편에 형상화된 공간의 양상과 의미

Abstract

Yoo Chi-Hwan’s Manchurian poems are positioned at a critical juncture between his early and middle periods, and many researchers conducted extensive studies on this particular juncture, which represents the pinnacle of Yoo Chi-hwan’s poetic spirit. Regarding the reason for his relocation from Tongyeong to Manchuria, there are different views. Some contend that he left his hometown due to the watchful eye of the Japanese police, while others maintain that it was a result of personal faults. However, this paper argues that his decision to leave his hometown was driven rather a consequence of his own psychological motivations which were driven by a sense of melancholy determination, aiming to secure his family’s well-being, achieve personal success, and break free from colonial constraints. However, upon arriving in Manchuria, his perspective changed. He perceived the vast expanse of the Manchurian wilderness as a closed space, akin to ‘an isolated island,’ reigniting his desire to escape. This passive and inauthentic subjectivity led to the portrayal of a closed space, resulting in a sense of placelessness as he projected himself onto others in his travel poetry. Unable to fulfill his escape desire, he sought to transform the home space into a place of solace and refuge, depicting it as a sacred realm connected to the celestial universe.