니체로 읽는 셰퍼 Equus, Amadeus, The Royal Hunt of the Sun을 중심으로

This study applies ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche to an examination of Peter Shaffer as a social and religious critic who presents an optimistic future of modern society and human existence. The main purposes of the study are to investigate Nietzsche’s concept of tragedy, to identify problems of modern society and religion, and to analyze three of Shaffer’s plays in light of Nietzsche’s ideas. Shaffer’s major themes shown in the three plays are isolated human existence in industrialized, materialized society and human beings’ relations with God. He shows how conventional institutions of society confine human beings’ instinctive creativity and repress their passion and freedom. Shaffer also highlights the corruption of material culture and of conventional religion in his works. This corruption brings on modern man’s alienation from society and psychic hunger. The solution Shaffer suggests for these modern problems is to return to ancient civilization, as in ancient Greece or the ancient Inca Empire. The destruction of aboriginal civilization by occidental civilization is another significant theme Shaffer deals with. He notes a loss of myth and worship in modern culture caused by the scientific mind and materialism. He seeks to recapture the true value of human existence and worship of religion from ancient culture. Nietzsche shared with Shaffer a concern about the future of human existence in modern culture. Nietzsche’s core themes are the value of human existence and the value of human life. He expresses admiration of Greek culture and the Greek way of life in The Birth of Tragedy. In his view, the ancient Greeks overcame life’s pain, suffering and predicament with a Dionysian wisdom that regarded tragedy as art. He insists that Greek tragedy was destroyed by a Socratic easy optimism. Thus Nietzsche views modern society as a Socratic society. From this point of view, in The Antichrist, Nietzsche criticizes Christianity as an antagonism of human life. Shaffer’s purpose, however, is not simply to reveal the tragic situation of modern society but also to show the human will of overcoming life's absurdity and predicament. His plays end with an assertion of human faith and love through the unity of characters. The strength of Shaffer’s plays lies in showing the positivity of human existence and our society, which can be achieved through the human will of overcoming.