『태백산맥』의 반동인물

Abstract

This study examines antagonist in 『The TaeBaekMountains』, the novel. Antagonist create events and conflicts by opposing the pioneers of historical developments, and their anti-historical actions paradoxically emphasize the inevitability of historical developments. The following briefly summarizes their roles in 『TheTaeBaek Mountains』. Antagonist in 『The TaeBaek Mountains』 are classified into three types: (1) vicious local landlords including Ik-Seung Choi, a member of the National Assembly, Hyun-Dong Jung, and Un-Sang Seo; (2) pro-Japan military policemen including In-Tae Nam, the Chief of Beolgyo Police Department, Man-Soo Lim, the punitive commander, and Nam-Shik Baek, the chief martial law administrator; (3) the servants of plutocratic powers including the servants of Sang-Goo Yeom, a youth leader, Chul-Se Heo and Dong-Pyung Oh, the supervisors of tenant farms. The vicious local landlords hold vested rights from their lands and are selfish characters who bribe the political authorities for political advancements. The corruptive pro-Japan military policemen used to be the puppets of Japanese authorities during the Japanese Colonialization of Korea. They continue suppressing the commoners and bribing the authorities even after Korean Independence and do not hesitate committing inhumane violations. The servants of the greedy plutocratic powers are the servants of authorities or landlords who suppress and exploit the commoners or the tenants for their personal interests and greed. They they mostly illustrate the historical events for more vivid reality rather than playing central roles in the events.