The domestic theatrical world in the 1970s witnessed the advent of experimental spirit-oriented plays which were influenced by surrealistic plays. In that period, Lee Gang-baek came to the fore as a rising writer who criticized reality metaphorically....
The domestic theatrical world in the 1970s witnessed the advent of experimental spirit-oriented plays which were influenced by surrealistic plays. In that period, Lee Gang-baek came to the fore as a rising writer who criticized reality metaphorically. Since then, he has steadily carried out his activity and constructed his unique world of literary works. Especially, his core dramaturgy of allegory technique is the result of his recognizant frame and methodology of the world. However, preceding studies on him overlooked his view of the world. In this regard, the aim of this study was to examine the changes of Lee Gang-baek's view of the world, focusing on his plays in the 1980s. The reason why the investigator focuses on the plays in the 1980s to discuss the changes of his view of the world is in that his plays in that period reveal two remarkable tendencies. First, he wrote such plays of which allegory was weakened but reality was strengthened, And second, he wrote such plays of which foundation was Korean world of legends. Based on these two tendencies, the investigator analyzed his plays to find out the changes of his view of the world.
First, in the first chapter of main subject, the investigator analyzed his such plays as 「Genealogy」, 「Jurassic People」, 「Homo Separatus」, and 「Falling Asleep After Taking in Utopia」 which were published in the 1980s and remarkable with his pessimistic view of the world on the basis of confrontational world view. In these plays, the writer borrowed biblical motif and presented such a view of the world that social problems could be solved through individuals' sacrifice and repentance of guilty sense. However, this view was just his suggestion for the settlement of contemporary social problems. His view of the world was still pessimistic.
In the second chapter, the investigator analyzed 「Spring Days」, 「Biongsaong」, and 「Chilsanri」. In these plays, the writer borrowed the motif of Korean legends and then adopted its instructive elements or world views, thus connecting it with the themes of plays. Especially, the writer stopped confrontational view of the world and then materialized the reconciliatory and unitary recognition of the world by means of the unitary way of thinking that was inherent in Korean legends and saver-like motherly affection that was presented by characters.
Such a distinctive change in his plays in the 1980s seems to be derived from the background of the time and his social experience. He has been actively concerned about social reality, since his entrance into Korean literary circles. He could have a concrete experience about contemporary society through the activities in the Christian Academy, a social movement-oriented religious organization. And based on the experience, he could publish reality-reinforced plays in the 1980s. In those plays, the writer tried to destruct social irrationality, but he found no hope in real society. Thus, he borrowed the motif of Korean legends and then presented the world of reconciliation and tolerance in his plays in the late days of the 1980s.
This study is to examine the view of the world presented in Lee Gang-baek's plays which has not been discussed up to date. The investigator analyzes his plays not in the aspect of themes or techniques but in the aspect of view of the world, thus hopefully diversifying the interpretation of literary works. The investigator hopes future studies on him deal with a variety of his literary works in addition to the studies on his plays in the 1980s.