계모형소설의 ‘아버지’ 재론

Abstract

This paper questions in detail the conventional understanding of fathers in fictions featuring a stepmother, or “stepmother-type stories,” as incapable or unwise. It is built on the premise that refuses to see males only in terms of patriarchy but as an object of revenge. Thus, this paper aims to divide their roles as a patriarch on the one hand and a father on the other. In “stepmother-type stories,” a male character manages to fulfill his roles. He strives for the success of his family as a patriarch, while being sweet and gentle to his children. However, an accusation, albeit false, by his (new) wife that his daughter has lost chastity drives him into a predicament where he is compelled to kill his daughter to salvage his family’s honor. The idea of taking his daughter’s life with his own hand agonizes him, but he ends up giving into the hegemonic masculinity and kills his daughter. In turn, he either dies or loses his patriarchal authority to his wife. In the struggle between the patriarch and the father, neither enjoys victory. Instead, this represents a triumph of patriarchy seeking to bring hegemonic masculinity into reality the patriarch himself. Thus, male characters in these “stepmother-type stories” do not kill their daughters because they want it, but because they succumb to the institution of patriarchy. Patriarchy is brutal enough to force the male head of a family to kill his own daugther. In this regard, the institution does not serve but instead oppresses and dictate males and there seems no reason to adhere to it.