This dissertation aims to reserch the structural qualities and character-making of the domestic novel during the Chosun dynasty.
In the domestic novel of the Chosun dynasty, the source of problems is the conflict brought about by the discordance of h...
This dissertation aims to reserch the structural qualities and character-making of the domestic novel during the Chosun dynasty.
In the domestic novel of the Chosun dynasty, the source of problems is the conflict brought about by the discordance of human relations between the two quite different family members-the original and the hetrogeneous members. In addition the absurd social systems such as polygamy and concubinage cause a family trouble to become a social poroblem.
The domestic novel is characterized by both diverse motives in its organization and its original epic structure, which are different from other classical novels.
The domestic novel has the same structure as in a love-story, a hero-tale and a vindictive story, and elevates the value of the hero's or heroine's actions and the meaning of existence. At the same time it reflects the sincere national consciousness of Chosun people hoping to get over the actual trials of life and to aspire after an Utopian world.
The domestic novel especially procides an opportunity to create tragic beauty to the aesthetics of the Korean literature, which is based on a particular emotion-a spite and grudge, through the repetitive process of life and death called reincarnation. This is the evidence that the truthfulness of human life is deeply concerned with the Korean shamanic beliefs in the next world.
The phenominon of dream which appears in the domestic novel is the mysterious notification that tells a forthcoming birth. This means that the functions of a gero a heroine in the domestic novel are much more realistic and virtuous than those of a hero or a heroine in the hero-novel. The secret-assistance-novel is the rapport of divine inspiration between man and god, in which the suggestion in the manifested dream has great influence on the filial and pure hero's or heroine's existence and realization of ideal value.
In the part of character-making of the domestic novel, the children born of the former wife and discarded by the stepmother actively cope with the cruel and aggresive treatment of the stepmother, improve the absurd society, and provide a harmoneous human life.
A lawful wife who is represented as a positive character puts into practice the humanity having its origin in equality and love through her sacrificial life.
A husband described as a negative character is bent on maintaining the existing moral obligation, Confucianism. He enjoys given status adhering to the idea of Confucius but never make their human life worth living.
A concubine whose immoral conducts are unacceptable to the Confucian society becomes a model symbolizing an unethical society, and is embossed strongly by her personal quality to stand high in her husband's love.
A stepmother is taken into a problem family for a comlementary position. But she becomes a social problem-making person because of her increasing sadistic character which result from her delution of perwecution with the late former wife, social recognation as to the position of the second wife and her husband's impartial love. As she lives a life without any ideal promise, she cannot help being described as an immoral person.
Other assistant Characters who belong to an estranged social class such as a serving maid express thier honest feelings and shows thier humanities in their conscientious lives.
But the male assistant characters who regared themselves as wandering intellectuals pursue a sensual life for pleasure which is caused by the comtemporary political contradiction and the fall of sadaedu(high government officials)class.
Up to now we have looked over the structral qualities and aspects of character-making in the domestic novel. The domestic novel not merely contains its value of existence as an ancient novel. Even modernized today the domestic novel has also its own literary characteristics having its thematic influence deep rooted on the modern world.