부조리한 삶에 대한 반항

Abstract

Yan Lianke is internationally recognized as one of the three great masters of modern Chinese literature, along with Yuhua and Moyen. In China, however, many of his books are banned. Yan Lianke wants to be able to write freely, to reflect reality, and to capture in his own way the memories of a past that has been selectively erased in Chinese history. This article considers absurdity and rebellion to focus on Yan Lianke’s work, and to explore this, we first look to Camus’s The Myth of Sisyphus and The Stranger to understand the meaning of absurdity and rebellion. By examining the personal and historical circumstances of both Camus and Yan Lianke, we will further explore the meaning of absurdity and rebellion through their lives. The Four Books deals with the events that take place in the power-controlled space of the Yuxin District, and because it is described through Yan Lianke’s own expression, readers may feel that the content and expression are somewhat exaggerated. However, the situations depicted in The Four Books are not only the past history of actual China, but also a projection of the current China. There is a difference between Camus’ and Yan Lianke’s perception of rebellion. While Camus saw this rebellion at the level of individual lives, Yan Lianke goes a step further and not only criticizes the absurdity of China, but also hopes that each individual will wake up and rebel, and through this, China will become a better country.