매 맞는 노비와 윤리/교양의 역설 - 『묵재일기』의 문학해석학적 연구*

Abstract

In this paper, by collecting and analyzing the sentences which were narrated the corporal punishment of slaves recorded in the Mukjae diary written by Yi Mun-geon, the duties and norms of the servants and bondmaids (nobi) premised on the corporal punishment were reconstructed. Paradodxically, the reality of the competence and qualities, virtues, culture, and ethics of slaves in the Joseon Dynasty was identified hermeneutically through this. Nobi was asked by the old owner to obey orders, sincerity, quality and speed of labor, careful parenting, prohibition of property damage, proper response to the old owner’s tastes and needs, and safety. In addition, polite attitudes and speaking, and ethics such as diligence, sincerity, prudence, courtesy, politeness, care, trust, family and colleagues were requested. The slaves also controlled their personal, physical, and sexual aspects, such as relationships, quarrels, rape, and adultery, and the yangban owners were benefited from emotional labor such as resolving or projecting emotions through the slave. Nobi generally accepted the owner’s physical punishment, but sometimes resisted with speaking and behavior, and tried to coordinate with their owner while negotiating with him. Paradoxically, the servants and bondmaids’ physical punishment for the other slaves suggests that the servants’ competence and qualities, ethics, and culture were recognized by the slaves. However, this did not form a legitimate recognition structure in the hierarchical perception of status. In this study, the possibility and point of debate were analyzed by naming this as the paradox of slave ethics/culture in the status system society.