이상의 소설에 나타난 죽음과 신, 그리고 니체적 사유

Abstract

This research investigates the relevance between death and sin, deity or salvation and the Nietzschean reasoning that underlies Lee Sang’s novels. Lee Sang began his life as a writer after being diagnosed with tuberculosis. For this reason, he writes about death, the existence of God, destiny, and salvation in his first novel [December 12th]. Despite his illness and young age, his imminent death enabled him to reach the philosophical depth of Nietzsche. In Lee Sang’s works including novels, essays, and poems from 1930 to 1933, he is acceptant towards Christianity and the existence of God. For instance, in his maiden work [December 12th], he embraces both Christianity and the Nietzschean nihilism. In fear for death, Lee Sang first seeks God’s salvation. However, he becomes devastated in that he cannot find the true meaning of life till the very end. While he gains the ‘will to live’, he approaches Nietzsche’s idea of übermensch. However, Lee Sang’s view becomes pessimistic and anti-christian as his illness and love life deteriorates. In his last work [the Note of his end] written in the winter of 1936, Lee Sang seeks eternal life through his artwork instead of religious salvation. This is similar to Nietzsche’s later philosophical views to living forever through art. It is clear that Nietzschean reasoning and his premature death is the underlying basis for Lee Sang’s literary work.