Characterology is a branch of learning essential to the study of the characters of writers and artists. Characterology determines from what source of energy in the mind and character of a writer or an artist a work of art, which is the product of his ...
Characterology is a branch of learning essential to the study of the characters of writers and artists. Characterology determines from what source of energy in the mind and character of a writer or an artist a work of art, which is the product of his creative personality, is derived. It also clarifies how the particular qualify of the work is related to the source of energy from which it is derived. It is not in the sphere of characterology to place an artistic value judgment up on a work of art. To explore the human and spiritual basis in the creative process of a writer or an artist, however, without doubt, is essential not only to the study of a work of art but also to the study of the author. Moreover, it also greatly contributes to the evaluation of the work of art itself. Thus characterology occupies its inevitable place as an auxiliary science to the study of literature and art.
The present study gives an outline sketch of the various theories of characterology, with a special emphases upon the theories of Ernst Kretschmer. I spared a considerable number of pages upon the study of the schizophrenic temperament because this study looks forward to a further study to be entitled "Rhee Sang (李箱) Viewed in Terms of Characterology. " I entertain a hypothesis that the poet Rhee Sang (李箱) was a possessor of a schizophrenic temperament as made apparent in his physical constitution and in the general trend of his works. To prove this hypothesis, the theories of characterology .Particularly those be brought in. I originally planned a tripartite study to be entitled "Stylistics, Characterology, and a Study of Rheeh Sang(李箱)."The scale of the plan, however, has prevented my accomplishing the study within a limited periodi of work. Thus the present study is only limited to "A Study of Characterology. "
The second highlight of the present study lies in the fact that I have tried to prove that the mechanism of thought of the modern creative artists and that of a schizophrenic temperament are identical. The awareness of crisis to be found in the Karte of the spirit of the modern times represents a trend toward the dissolutions and split of the "modern ego". A mechanism of thought established to prevent this split is represented by that of those creative artists called the modernists. I have endeavored to prove that this mechanism of thought is identical with that of the schizophrenics who try to prevent the crisis of the split of the ego upon individual basis.
Furthermore, I have proved that this mechanism of thought lies in the same dimension with that of the primitives, children, and the mechanism of a dream. This proof, I presume, is the major contribution of the present study.