Gerontion 에 관한 종교적 이해

A Christian Approach to “Gerontion

The purpose of this paper is to appreciate Eliot’s “Gerontion as a kind of Christian poem. In general, thís poem has en considered as a non -religious one. This consideration has been rooted in the misunder-standing that this poem only shows us the process of turning the con-temporary cultural materials into poetry itself, language ‘rich and strange . In fact, his poem includes this trend. But the most important thing we must take into consideration is the fact that Eliot’s theory of impersonality and his emphasis upon the tra-ditíon are suggested as a resolution of the Pauline concept of ‘Original Sin’. Considering that his earlier criticism is concemed with defense for his poetry, we leam that even his earlier poetry is essentially Christian, at least reJigious. Like his earlier criticism, his “Gerontion is based upon the Christian -Iike view of world, which is destroyed, spoiled and depraved by the Original Sin. lt shows us Eliot’s recognition on the human conditions and suggests us how to ve himself from his sinful condition. His rec-ognition is based upon Pauline paradox of saJvation; “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Rom‘ 5:20) . According to Paul’s premise, the recognition of s sinful nature and spiritual sterility is prerequisite for the salvation, because it makes him surrender himself to God’s hands, which can only offer his people their salvation. Eliot shared the same thought in common with Baudelaire. Eliot’s “Gerontion ’ embodies and tums this premise into a perfect poem. Therefore, we conclude that EJiot’s “Gerontion is, and must be inter-preted as a Christian poem, and that some critics assertion that it is not embodiment of a Christian belief but a kind of modemistic poem whose goal is only to tum various contemporary cultural materials into a poem wants correcting.