‘남녀 성(性) 바꾸기’ 환생담에 나타난 독자의 욕망 고찰 Ⲻ 조선 후기 고소설 <하씨선행후대록> · <한조삼성기봉> · <삼생록>을 중심으로–

Abstract

This paper looks into the desire of readers and evaluates the textual value of the <Hasiseonhaenghudaerok>·<Hanjosamsungibong>·<Samsengrok>, the old novels of the late Joseon Dynasty period that institute a setting of gender switch between a man and a woman. These works are different from pre-existing reincarnation stories in that characters switch their gender and experience the role of the opposite sex. In <Hasiseonhaenghudaerok>, Jang Daerang, who was a man, is reborn as a woman named Gwak. This maximizes the image of the female villain and amplifies the conflict among women by replacing men-women opposition of the previous life with women-women opposition. In <Hanjosamsungibong>, Kwakhu is reborn as Kangwang, a man, and Kwanmujae is reborn as Jo Su-Ah, a woman. It functions as a female revenge narrative, and expresses support for women and distrust towards men. In <Samsengrok>, Manchun and Hyanran are born as the opposite sex. The gender switch in this reincarnation story is used as a device for understanding the opposite sex. <Hasiseonhaenghudaerok>, which emphasizes the conduct and virtue of women through embodiment of the female villain and maximization of women-women opposition; <Hanjosamsungibong>, which moves back and forth between women’s revenge and patiarchal ideology; and <Hanjosamsungibong>, which pursues gender equality and understanding, are all reincarnation stories that contain narrative desires of the readers, who lived in the late Joseon period, where patriarchy was learned, divided, and changed. The gender switch reincarnation stories, <Hasiseonhaenghudaerok>·<Hanjosamsungibong>·<Samsengrok> portray reincarnation from a penalty to revenge, a space of understanding and harmony. They are valuable as storytelling texts in that they turn over the values of original works and create new stories. We dream of reincarnation because we desire to leave the difficulties of life and be born in a better place. Gender switch reincarnation stories are meaningful in that they show the desire of the readers through rewriting.