이 논문은 카뮈의 『이방인』(1942)을 참고로 하고, 홋타 요시에의 『광장의 고독』(1951)과 최인훈의 『광장』(1961)을 나란히 놓음으로써, 전쟁이라는 한계 상황과 부조리의 인식이라는 보편적 주제가 각 나라의 구체적 현실에서 어떻게 달라지는지를 구체적으로 검토했다. 한국전쟁기의 한국과 일본을 배경으로 하는 두 작품은 주제와 제재 면에서 많은 공통점을 보이지만, 두 작품이 위치한 맥락이 다르기 때문에 현실에 대한 대응 양상은 큰 차이를 보인다. 두 작품에 나타난 세계와의 분리된 자기 인식을 ‘인간의 혼’과 ‘에고’로 제시했고, 현실 대응 양상에 따라 두 인물을 ‘선을 못 넘은 자발적 미수자’와 ‘선을 넘은 임의의 인물’로 나누었다. 개인의 자유와 공동체의 추구라는 동일한 주제의식을 보인 두 작품을 비교하는 작업을 통해 『광장』이 놓인 지형도를 새로운 각도에서 보고자 했다.
This research explores existential meaning of Choi In-hun`s The Square in comparison with Albert Camus`s The Stranger and Hotta Yoshie’s The Loneliness in the Square. Choi argues that Korean literary circle needs to learn a lesson from Japanese existentialists in terms of how to receive existentialism from the West. Japanese critics and novelists attempt to understand and reintroduce this Western concept based on their own perspective. Choi’s The Square and Hotta’s The Loneliness in the Square have similarities in subject, theme, and awareness of a reality. However, their decision based on their specific circumstance comes to quite difference. This paper suggests the ‘soul’ and ‘ego’ as a key term to indicate a sense of absurdity in life. In addition, I coin a term, ‘a would-be criminal who couldn't cross the line’ and ‘unspecified person who cross the line’ to intensify how each character from The Square and The Loneliness in the Square responds to their own reality with difference, diversity, and otherness.
This research explores existential meaning of Choi In-hun`s The Square in comparison with Albert Camus`s The Stranger and Hotta Yoshie’s The Loneliness in the Square. Choi argues that Korean literary circle needs to learn a lesson from Japanese existentialists in terms of how to receive existentialism from the West. Japanese critics and novelists attempt to understand and reintroduce this Western concept based on their own perspective. Choi’s The Square and Hotta’s The Loneliness in the Square have similarities in subject, theme, and awareness of a reality. However, their decision based on their specific circumstance comes to quite difference. This paper suggests the ‘soul’ and ‘ego’ as a key term to indicate a sense of absurdity in life. In addition, I coin a term, ‘a would-be criminal who couldn't cross the line’ and ‘unspecified person who cross the line’ to intensify how each character from The Square and The Loneliness in the Square responds to their own reality with difference, diversity, and otherness.
