『 좋으실 대로』 : 동화적 논리와 경제적 교환의 이념

Abstract

This paper examines how As You Like It adopts the logic of fairy tale ideologically to criticize the proto-capitalized society and to suggest a vision of ideal society against it. According to the convention of fairy tale, the play develops the binary world of good and bad. The bad is new world. And it is the proto-capitalist society, in which virtues of antique world is destroyed: the bonds of blood and kinship seem to have lost their cogency; the oppressed are driven into exile. The oppressed driven from bad society gathered in the Arden forest, cherishing the memories of the good old world. But it is proved that in this mode of going out capitalized society is also imbued with the idea of reestablishing the antique world of agrarian community. For this idea, main characters in the play take the initiative in following the idea of economic exchange in agrarian community of the remote past; the idea of reciprocity in gift and return. But it also proves to be an ethos for aristocrats who have had or will resume power. And it is mainly reflected in Orlando’s success story. Instead of following Robin Hood’s way of life which means resistance and lawlessness, Orlando follows Duke’s gentle way of life in Arden. As a consequence, by getting married to princess Rosalind, his wish to be a genuine aristocrat comes true. Orlando’s success story can be interpreted as reflecting the logic and strategy for aristocrats to reunify fragmented society under their leadership, or hegemony. Finally, with marriages “as they like it”, good old world has been reestablished. And it is as yet achievable only temporarily in Arden, only by and for limited aristocrats. Nevertheless, we can conclude that the play, with a logic of fairy tale, seems to deliver a version of ideal world based on the antique idea of economic exchange of reciprocity in gift and return, facing proto-capitalist society.