우상이 아닌 인간: 존 던의 엘레지에 나타난 여성 (Not an Idol but a Human Being: the Image of Woman in John Donne’s Elegies)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국고전중세르네상스영문학회
· 수록지 정보 : 고전중세르네상스영문학 / 25권 / 2호 / 69 ~ 94페이지
· 저자명 : 이상엽

초록

This paper attempts to show that John Donne’s poetry, especially some of his Elegies, does not demean woman but acknowledges and appreciates all of her capabilities. He accomplishes this by describing not only the physical aspects of lovemaking but also the spiritual and intellectual sides of intimacy. Donne’s lover rejects superficial relationships between man and woman. He focuses on a serious relationship between mutual lovers. In refusing to romanticize woman, he can view her as an equal. Down from off a pedestal she is at his level, worthy of respect and mutual interaction as an equal lover. The two affect each other reciprocally. In fact, Donne, breaking from the Petrarchan view of woman and of love, tries to achieve harmony between man and woman. He thinks that it is very unrealistic to see the female image as a chaste and heavenly woman who is supported and reinforced by society and its literary conventions. Such a female image usually robs woman of her true human beauty and of her true virtue. As far as man is concerned, it also confines him to a role of submissive and hopeless suitor. Donne believes that the distorted image of woman and her relationship with man hinders true love or communion between them. Therefore, he tries to understand both sexes on the same condition, namely, gender equality based on the meaning of a true human being. In his poetry he introduces an unfaithful woman who betrays and doesn’t feel guilty, but he refers to such a woman as a sign of the futility of moral and spiritual values that don’t have true understanding of human nature. And he also subverts the false conception that soul is superior to body in order to take a new and true picture of human being.

영어초록

This paper attempts to show that John Donne’s poetry, especially some of his Elegies, does not demean woman but acknowledges and appreciates all of her capabilities. He accomplishes this by describing not only the physical aspects of lovemaking but also the spiritual and intellectual sides of intimacy. Donne’s lover rejects superficial relationships between man and woman. He focuses on a serious relationship between mutual lovers. In refusing to romanticize woman, he can view her as an equal. Down from off a pedestal she is at his level, worthy of respect and mutual interaction as an equal lover. The two affect each other reciprocally. In fact, Donne, breaking from the Petrarchan view of woman and of love, tries to achieve harmony between man and woman. He thinks that it is very unrealistic to see the female image as a chaste and heavenly woman who is supported and reinforced by society and its literary conventions. Such a female image usually robs woman of her true human beauty and of her true virtue. As far as man is concerned, it also confines him to a role of submissive and hopeless suitor. Donne believes that the distorted image of woman and her relationship with man hinders true love or communion between them. Therefore, he tries to understand both sexes on the same condition, namely, gender equality based on the meaning of a true human being. In his poetry he introduces an unfaithful woman who betrays and doesn’t feel guilty, but he refers to such a woman as a sign of the futility of moral and spiritual values that don’t have true understanding of human nature. And he also subverts the false conception that soul is superior to body in order to take a new and true picture of human being.

참고자료

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