1960년대 이어령 소설의 탈근대성 연구

Abstract

This study explores the postmodernity of Lee O-young's novels in the 1960s, which have yet to be actively studied. From 1955, Lee published several novels and left a clear mark as a novelist. However, due to his many titles— critic, journalist, professor, and Minister of Culture—his novels have often been overlooked. Therefore, this study examines the direction of his fiction, to reveal further the significance of the literary history of his novels in the 1960s. As for the subjects of this study, 「The General’s Beard」, 「Kiwi」, 「Wartime Decameron」 and 「Phantom Legs」 were selected for analysis. These works reflect critically on Korea’s absurd modernity, including the Korean War, the April 19 Revolution, and the May 16 military coup, using various novel techniques to reveal the subject effectively. 「The General’s Beard」 explores the death of Cheol-hoon using both frame structure and mystery novel techniques. The novel criticizes oppressive modernity through the death of Cheol-hoon, but it allows readers to interpret his cause of death metaphorically by leaving the case unsolved. In addition, 「Kiwi」 and 「Wartime Decameron」 depict the tragic situation of Korea that went through the May military coup and the Korean War. The characters in these works are kiwis who lost their wings in the face of a tragic reality and witnesses who will critically testify to that history. The symbol of wings, the parody of Boccaccio’s 「The Decameron」, and Edgar Allan Poe’s poem 「To Helen」 show these novels’ postmodernity. And 「Phantom Legs」 shows a critical reflection on the April 19 Revolution and the protagonists’ growths by using Stendhal’s novel 「Vanina Vanin」 as a mutual text. Through this, it displays pluralistic postmodernity, not only in the thematic aspect but also in the formal aspect. As such, Lee O-young’s novels have literary significance in that they criticize the belief in rational progress driven by master narratives and the contradictions of modernity, and seek alternative points.