[A Sip of a Book] A Psychiatrist's Analysis of Spain's Personality

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Besides the UK, France, Italy, and Switzerland, Spain is a popular destination for those seeking a leisurely trip. The author says that Spaniards are not hectic, making it a good place to enjoy quiet time while traveling. While other European countries have distinct and unique charms, Spain offers a familiar comfort. The book focuses more on Spain’s inner essence than its exterior. As a psychiatrist, the author attempts to interpret the "mysterious and enigmatic" aspects of Spain as its 'personality.' Rather than academic analysis, the author expresses personal views based on information encountered through books and people. As a clinical doctor, the author also proposes medical prescriptions for Spain, approached from a personal perspective.

Spain is like a melting pot. In terms of food, it is like bibimbap. Different ethnic groups and nations came together to create the unique flavor of being Spanish. The first guests were the prehistoric Cro-Magnons who came from Africa, followed by the Iberians, Celts, Greeks, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and the Germanic (Visigoths), all of whom contributed to what became Spain. Spain encompassed all of these.

They expressed their dissatisfaction and pessimistic feelings through picaresque novels. The p?caro is anti-establishment and anti-idealistic. Through their resistance, they voiced the grievances present in their lives. However, they expressed this anger in a humorous and optimistic way, which is also characteristically Spanish. This genre of picaresque novels developed further during the Baroque period and is a uniquely Spanish literary form. Their pessimistic mindset later evolved into anarchistic tendencies.

There are countless similarities with them, but I will focus on a few representative ones. We also experienced a brutal civil war, the Korean War, for three years, followed by a military dictatorship, and then rapid economic development and democratization, eventually becoming a developed country. Spain also endured a brutal civil war, achieved economic development under Franco’s dictatorship, and later established democracy through a parliamentary monarchy. They too passed through very poor times and quickly became a developed country.

Surreal Spain | Written by Lee Seonghun | Seongindeok | 476 pages | 25,000 KRW

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