조명희 소설에 나타난 잔혹한 낙관주의 -식민지 ‘동화되기’에 대한 반항적인 감정-

Abstract

This paper attempted to examine the works of Choi Myeonghee from the perspective of affects theory in order to overcome the limitations of dichotomous perspective of the previous studies. Most of characters in Choi’s novels live with the attitude of cruel optimism about the culture of western colonialist. Such characters were not capable to help to improve the reality of Joseon but they help to manage the difference with Japanese impartialism. In Choi’s early novels, intellectual and writer’s character carry out the sense of self-respect, compassion and sympathy even though it was not helping them in the surface of their own reality. Intellectuals adopted this logic of rule because they had unconscious desire of resistance against the japanese imperialism desire of assimilating of Joseon people. Especially the realization of compassion shows the unconsciousness desire of Korean people that they want to regain the sovereignty of their lost nation. Such cruel optimistic attitude also appear in the character of Choi later works when he adopted the socialism, an outside ideology in his works. This demonstrate the reality of Korean people that they had no way but have to yearn for the last resort even blindly. The aforementioned logical concept that Japanese imperialism mocked about Korean people were similar to effeminate, tolerance, partyism and optimism. Beside this, his middle period works demonstrate two kinds of possibility in his writing of shame. During his creative process and writing activity, Choi introspected about his past behaviour such as heartless bourgeois nature and effeminate character though his works. He also took an initiative to demonstrate the affection of love and anxiety(fürsorge) for family and nation in order to correct the human problem through his early works which is especially meaningful.