한성신보 소재 <조부인전> 연구 - 구여성의 자기각성과 현실대응양상을 중심으로

Abstract

Founded in February 17, 1895, Hansungilbo[漢城日報] is a pro-Japanese media which is deeply related to the assassination of empress Myeongseong as some of its reporters are killers of the empress. To increase the number of the subscriber that had been sharply decreased after the assassination, Hansungshinbo made a novel section that serially publishes the classic novel of Chosun. Chobuin-jeon[趙婦人傳] was the first serial novel, published in the newspaper from May 19th to July 10th in 1896. Former researchers have analyzed Jobuin as an inconsistent heroin. However, Jobuin's change is actually probable and persuasive indeed in the context of the narrative. Jo's sexuality is the main factor that causes various conflicts in the novel. Characters such as a local gentry, a high-ranking official who used to be a servant, a wealthy merchant, and a big thief serially threaten her chastity in the narrative, either seeing her as a woman of virtue or an object of desire. Throughout this, it can be concluded that the main event or conflict always focus on Jo's sexuality. At the end of the novel, Jo realized that nobody can save her from the danger, because ‘the virtue of a good wife' has always been driven her into more dangerous situations. Therefore, she has got to know how to separate an identity of 'female' from that of a good wife. Moreover, as her husband was dead, she did not need to act like a weak and humble[卑弱] person. She decided to live strong and free by herself[自强自由]. Then she became a merchant instead of traditional lady. She spontaneously established Hyangyak[鄕約] in the town to make a community, and built her own army to keep herself. In conclusion, this novel shows the transition of the old-fashioned woman who has never been exposed to the modern education into an independent agent, in the rapidly changing world. In the process, any foreign influence does not intervene. In brief, Jo is a new kind of heroin who actively responses to the new epoch. At the same time, this novel is noticeable in the history of Chosun novel. It tries to deliver a different narrative from the past, applying traditional motifs. Nevertheless, the motif does not be harmonized with the message of the novel as the traditional plot or motif cannot cover the new kind of narrative anymore. It suggests the fact that the novel at the time came to the stage that must find a way to suggest a new kind of plot that differs from the existing one.