<玉珠好緣>의 특징과 소설사적 의미

Abstract

<Okjuhoyeon(玉珠好緣)>, which seems to be created in the 19th century, has been classified as a heroine novels. However, in the various aspects it appears characteristics that are not easy to be characterized as a just single type. Therefore, I will examine the characteristics of <Okjuhoyeon(玉珠好緣)> and study on the aspects of the history of the 19th century novels through it. This novel has several characteristics. First, 'Okjuhoyeon(玉珠好緣)', as a title, which contains the story implying getting together between a hero and a heroine, is close to the custom of a long novel. In the type of hero novels that this novel belongs to, it is general that the form of '-Jeon(傳)' in the name of hero is entitled. Second, creating 3 heroes as the spouse of 3 twin heroines, this novel adopts a structure of plural heroes. In accordance with epic tradition it is also comparable to the custom of hero novels which develops narration based in single hero. Third, embodying character, this novel captures the inside and shows the relative standpoint. Through 3 plural heroines, on the compounding description of inner mental state, it weakens the idea of intention of success in life and the dichotomy of the good and bad. It also expresses criticism about the thinking of absolutism. Forth, through removing ordeal, expanding process of marriage and applying postscript or letter, this novel shows the mixing phenomenon of the type as it applies the elements of long novels written in Korean language in the structural sphere. Through these characteristics, this paper can investigate the aspects of the history of the 19th century novels, which had been shown frequent mixture among the various types. As hero novels had mainly imitated long novels written in Korean language in the popular commercial context, this mixing phenonenon is positively evaluated as a new attempt to dismantle the frame of custom. However, on the other hand, it is evaluated that this mixing phenonenon has the limit not to reflect serious critical mind of 19th century completely because of popular tendency.