신소설에 나타난 여성인물의 광기

Abstract

This study focuses on the dualistic structure and loopholes in Sinsoseol (Korean: literally "new novel") by focusing on insanity of female characters in Sinsoseol. There are frequent journeys in Sinsoseol. A journey of male character is generally based on the premise of setting out to the modernity of enlightenment, but on the other hand it has a strong tendency of a profligate tour, with poor or no specific narratives. Main characters of Sinsoseol are female characters that lead the narrative of home and family inherent with the old-fashioned motives of filial duty and virtue. The motif of journey by male characters that frequently appear in Sinsoseol is manifested as their obsession with enlightenment. In the directivity of Sinsoseol that ideologizes home as a place of absolutely perfect order and stability, female characters who returned home with their family destroyed tend to display symptoms of delusion. Korean writer Yi Injik who had political ambitions portrays male characters that resisted to the old political powers as rational and noble heroes in his works 「Tears of Blood (Hyeorui Nu)」 and 「Silver World (Eunsegye)」. On the other hand, he brings into the novels the insanity of female characters as internalized emotions that are in conflict with the periodical situation. The insanity (delusion) of mothers without language or statement to express themselves resulted in another opportunity for their daughters (Okryeon, Oksoon) to be responsible for their academic achievement, which acts as an additional factor for women to make an appearance in the arena of modernization. Moreover, Sinsoseol also played a certain role in discovering a new human aspect from the conventional view of women that had perceived unconditional devotion to men as fate. Choi Chansik's 「The Sound of a Wild Goose (Anuisung)」 and 「Rungrado」 portray female characters with a lowly status who obtains self-examination ability through new education get involved with a man through free love but end up running away due to family trouble and experiencing symptoms of hysteria. Seeing women as not the others from men but as existential human beings, this behavior defined as insanity cannot be explained merely as a manifestation of their inherent brutality. Rather, women's insanity can be interpreted as a self-defensive behavior to protect their identity from the suppressive power system, and a gesture of resistance that fights against such system. Furthermore, women's insanity may be the "superior spirit" that seeks answers to the questions of what their existence means and who they are in the patriarchal society that is hostile toward women.