선충원 『변성』의 서정적 리얼리즘

Abstract

This essay examines the elements within Shen Congwn’s novel The Border Town(1934) that evoke a sense of lyricism and sheds light on its realism. While the novel is known as a representative Chinese lyrical novel in a tranquil rural setting, depicting a romantic love story among wholesome adolescent characters, it is also replete with elements of death and cruelty that starkly contrast the pastoral atmosphere, creating a juxtaposition. The dual nature of the main elements, such as the river and love, are in constant confrontation, maintaining a dialectical relationship, ultimately giving rise to ‘opened’ image-event which forms the foundation of lyricism. Walter Benjamin’s dialectical image serve as a valuable concept that combines lyricism and realism of the novel which reproduces representation of life and present’s totality. The novel reflects Shen’s historical consciousness as an alternative to historical materialism ideology and narrative style of 5.4 and post 5.4 realism. The dialectical image of lyricism is a key concept for designating this novel as lyrical realism, as it departs from the trajectory of 5.4 realism while simultaneously renewing realism.