최재서의 『햄맅』: 수용사적 의의 및 번역의 우수성과 문제점

Abstract

This study undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the translation of Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, by Choi Jae-seo. This particular translation holds significant historical importance within the context of Shakespearean acceptance in Korea, as it is credited with paving the way for Choi Jae-seo to become the first Korean Shakespearean scholar. In addition, the translation demonstrates an exceptional ability to translate the original text’s poetic elements, effectively conveying the intricacies of Shakespeare’s wordplay into the Korean language. These commendable aspects make Choi Jae-seo’s translation stand out from other Korean translations. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that certain problems also exist in his translation, including an excessive reliance on difficult Chinese terminology and quite a few strange translation errors. Regrettably, there remains a dearth of comprehensive studies on Choi Jae-seo’s translation despite its special significance in the history of Shakespeare’s reception in Korea. Another problem is that existing evaluations of this translation are often overly praised it without mentioning its problems. Accordingly, this thesis aims to provide a balanced assessment by conducting a meticulous analysis of the entire work, highlighting both its strengths and limitations in the context of the translation field in the 1950s. In order to judge whether the archaic Chinese characters frequently used by Choi Jae-seo was an inevitable choice that reflected the characteristics of the language of the time, I compared those expressions, if necessary, with Seol Jeong-sik’s translation, which was published 5 years before Choi Jae-seo’s.