‘심봉사’의 욕망을 통해 본 희곡 「심봉사」(1936⋅1947)의 비극적 의미

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explain the tragedy of 「Shimbongsa」 (1936⋅1947), created by ChaeManshik, in relation to Shimbongsa’s desire and to reassess it’s significance. The characters and desires of Shimbongsa in 「Shimbongsa」 reveal different aspects of the seven-act play in 1936 (A) and the three-act play in 1947 (B). As a result, there is a difference in the specific nature of self-harm and the tragic meaning of the work. Shimbongsa’s desire in A does not function only as a cause for Shimcheong’s death, taking off the charge of greed, as it relates to the various psychologies that exist inside him. On the other hand, A shows a world in which characters act according to their own interests and desires, and Shimbongsa’s desire exists as a clear cause of Shimchung’s death. In the end of A, the meaning of self-punishment is strengthened rather than causal retribution, and tragedy arises in that Shimbongsa’s desire contradicts his love for Shimcheong due to Shimcheong’s sacrifice. Even if one purpose of desire lies in the realization of affection, it can sacrifice loved ones due to the nature of desire to sacrifice others’ sacrifices depending on the situation. A shows this through Shimbongsa, who loves Shimcheong. The ending of B is based on causal and the meaning of self-punishment is weakened. The tragedy of B arises from the contradiction that the desire to escape from the dark state rather brings the subject of desire back to the dark state. B shows the paradox that the excessive pursuit of desire makes it difficult to control and rather moves away from the object of desire through selfish Shimbongsa. 「Shimbongsa」 depicts a world in which filial ideology has stopped working. The implementation structure of ‘Dark→Light→Dark’ effectively shows how it becomes useless. If the superhuman power that dominates Shimchungjeon corresponds to the logic of filial ideology, in the 「Shimbongsa」 it’s replaced by the logic of desire and dominates the narrative of the seventh and third acts in different ways. In short, 「Shimbongsa」 issues the nature of desire that sacrifices loved ones or destroys the subject through contradictions and paradoxes caused by desire, and presents a tragic fate that an individual with desire has no choice but to face based on the structure of ‘dark→light→dark’. 「Shimbongsa」 is meaningful as a tragedy in that it depicts a chain of inevitability different from the ‘inevitable fate’ of Greek tragedy.