이효석 소설에 나타나는 ‘능금’, ‘고향’, ‘모성’의 상관관계 연구 = A Study on the Correlation between ‘Nunggeum’, ‘Hometown’, and ‘Motherhood’ in Lee Hyo-seok’s Novel

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In this paper, the meaning of the correlation between ‘hometown’, ‘motherhood’ and ‘nunggeum’ in Lee Hyo-seok’s novel was revealed.
In Lee Hyo-seok’s novel, ‘Nunggeum’ appears repeatedly and constructs a multi-layered meaning. The ‘present/absence’ of Neunggeum means ‘the paradise/lost’ and ‘mother’s arms/lost’. In addition, ‘Nunggeum’ implies a temporary liberation from the reality of the colonial country, a struggle for independence, a journey to find freedom, and a longing for socialism for human liberation. And ‘Nunggeum’ is a longing for ideology, sex, and nature, and it is an symbol of ideal world.
Lee Hyo-seok’s birthplace is uncertain. However, it is certain that his birthplace is between Jinbu and Bongpyeong. Despite the geographical uncertainty, Lee's psychological and emotional hometown is Pyeongchang’s, which includes Jinbu and Bongpyeong. It is also questionable who Lee's birth mother is. Kang Hong-kyung is most likely not his birth mother, and it is likely that the person referred to as ‘Chungju-daek’ is his birth mother. Thus, Lee considers Gyeongseong to be his hometown and his mother-in-law as his mother.
Lee Hyo-seok’s denial of his hometown is too strong. It is heading towards denial of parents. However, considering Gyeongseong and his mother-in-law, his denial of his hometown is thought to eventually lead to his mother, and his denial of his father likely served as a catalyst for it. It is not possible to clarify the specific cause of Lee's denial of his hometown, but it can be confirmed that he strongly denies his hometown, which is related to his parents, and ultimately to his motherhood.
The relationship between Neunggeum and Gyeongseong is important in understanding Lee Hyo-seok’s literature, along with the place of birth, Gyeongseong's mother-in-law, birth mother, and hometown. For Lee Hyo-seok, Neunggeum is a symbol of nature and Gyeongseong. It's a subsitute for mother-in-law. Likewise, for Lee Hyo-seok, Neunggeum is a subsitute for his hometown and his mother. After all, Neunggeum is a subsitute of the lost hometown.
What is very interesting, however, is that Neunggeum focuses on in Lee Hyo-seok’s novels, especially during the Gyeongseong period, and it disappears in his novels during Pyongyang. Lee Hyo-seok seems to have experienced some kind of mental trauma between his birth mother and Kang Hong-kyung, although the specific fact is unknown. While living at a family-in-law’s home in Gyeongseong, he relieves some of his childhood trauma, which is the result of his mother-in-law’s warm love.
Thus, during the Pyongyang period, Lee Hyo-seok summoned his hometown, which was suppressed in his unconscious mind, and projected it into his work. At this time, he creates his masterpieces based on his hometown. It is his return to hometown.