In-der-Welt -Sein who desires the beyond-death: Reading Don DeLillo"s Zero K

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In Being and Time(1926), Martin Heidegger questions “the meaning of Being” with the meaning of “Time”. He says that time can exist only when we are mortal. In the world where humans can live forever, time may be meaningless or nonexistent even. Science has been developing so fast that, in the future, humans may gain control over their death and life: that is, eternal life may be possible. Don DeLillo’s recent novel, Zero K, reflects these ideas to its theme: life, death, time, being, and rebirth-by-technology. In Zero K, Artis and her millionaire husband Ross Lockhart chose a project called "The Convergence", in hopes to be ‘reborn’ in the future where Artis’ disease can be cured. Though Ross was healthy and could live twenty years more, he finally decided to be buried with Artis in the frozen capsule, hoping to be awaken someday together. This novel raises numerous questions about “the meaning of Being” and other concepts. "Inquiry"(Asking) is a very important concept in Heidegger. He says that "Every Inquiry is a seeking"(Heidegger 24). In Heidegger’s perspective, Jeff, the writer and Ross" son, is the seeker of “the meaning of Being” and that of death.