박완서의『너무도 쓸쓸한 당신』과 찻 껍찟띠의『시간』에 나타난 노년의 심신, 일, 이성애

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the aging body and soul of elders and their heterosexuality and work life based on the research of Wansuh Park’s Lonesome You containing 9 short novels and 1 skit and Thai author Chart Kobchitti’s novel, Time in a thematic manner. In Park’s work, she introduces a son who feels guilty as his female sibling bears the responsibility of taking care of their sick parents instead of him and his wife. The elderly parents show a strong desire to descend the property to the eldest son and value the son who carries the family name, reflecting the norms and values of Confucianism. When relationships with direct family members fall apart, the elderly mother in Park’s work boosts her self-esteem by building a new relationship with another individual who misses the maternal love. In Chart’s work, however, elders stay in a nursing home to avoid being betrayed and abandoned by, or burdens to their children but he shows that it is difficult for such society composed of solely elders to be sustained. The elderly parents in both of their works reflect family oriented values by showing strong desire to pass away at home with their family members. Also, everyday routine can be a challenge for elders with weak body and soul. Hence, looking at the relationship between elders and work life, work can boost their self-esteem and become the purpose of their lives. When looking at the heterosexuality of elders, Park introduces an elderly widowed woman who does not want to meet a new spouse and one of the reasons is her aging body. However, when a couple is separated, an elderly woman tends to show sympathetic love towards his husband, increasing their possibility of getting back together. In Chart’s work, an elder man’s aroused heterosexuality leads into his desire to marry a younger woman but after realizing his aging body, his will to live dies off.