씽(J. M. Synge)의 『슬픔의 디어드라』: 자서전적 극으로 읽기

J. M. Synge’s last play, Deirdre of the Sorrows is his only mythological play in which he dramatized the story of “The Fate of the Sons of Usnach” included in the Ulster Cycle of the Irish mythology. Some critics have already pointed out that Synge’s autobiographical elements were reflected in the play. However nobody has considered this play as a genuine autobiographical play yet. This paper suggests that Deirdre of the Sorrows can be read as an autobiographical play. Synge incarnates Deirdre, a heroine of the play, putting his autobiographical experiences and his own thoughts into the character. In the original story of the Irish myth, Deirdre appears just a beautiful girl symbolizing an idealistic and romantic love. However, she is transformed into an active and realistic character who has a strong will in the Synge’s play. There are some specific characteristics of Deirdre in the Synge’s play corresponding to Synge’s autobiographical experiences. First of all, Deirdre loves nature and the things from nature and experiences communion with nature. And then, she had to live in exile with Naisi, her lover in Alban, Scotland after she ran away from King Conchubor. Lastly, she has an unusual concept of death as a means to escape from old age and decay as well as to perpetuate her love. Similarly, Synge is a nature lover and his religion is a kind of pantheism. And he often led a wandering life and has cherished the exile consciousness of Irish people in his heart all his life. Therefore, Deirdre can be regarded as Synge’s alter ego. Also Synge considered death as a means to perpetuate his love because he was dying from a disease while he was writing Deirdre of the Sorrows.