제주도 신화 속 반(半)영웅적 존재의 의미

Abstract

This research focuses on heroic features of half-heroes in Jeju Island’s mythology. The half-heroes become a god in the end even though they are not so much an omnipotent god in comparison with typically conceived almighty heroes. Furthermore, as opposed to traditionally acclaimed heroic roles, these half-heroes don’t want to save people and community. Some of them threaten heroes’ happiness and life. In this regard, this paper explores five Jeju myths and focuses on subversive aspects of half-heroes: Sobyeolwang in “Cheonjiwang-bonpuri,” Donhaeyonggungagi in “Samseunghalmang-bonpuri,” Noiljedeguil’s daughter in “Munjeon-bonpuri,” Daebyeolsang in “Manura-bonpuri,” and Jeongsunami in “Segyeong-bonpuri.” Unqualified to be a god due to their lack of ability, Sobyeolwang and Donghaeyonggungagi gain chances to compete with heroes. All of them desire to be a god and a goddess to control the human world rather than the underworld and thus participate in competitions. Sobyeolwang asks his brother Daebyeolwang to give him riddles first, but Sobyeolwang cannot defeat his brother at any of the riddle competitions. Donghaeyonggungagi is already a goddess of pregnancy and childbirth before Myongjingukagi appears in the story. Donghaeyonggungagi succeeds to have Imbaksa's wife’s pregnant and yet fails to make her give birth. Despite such lack of qualities, Sobyeolwang and Donghaeyonggungagi gain opportunities to compete for being a god and a goddess of the human world. Noiljedeguil’s daughter, Daebyeolsang and Jeongsunami receive punishment for their wrongdoings and then each becomes a goddess and gods eventually. To be specific, Noiljedeguil’s daughter kills Yeosanbuin and acts like Yeosanbuin, but her body is ripped off by Yeosanbuin’s sons. Daebyeolsang spreads epidemic smallpox to babies. His wife becomes unable to give birth to a baby under a curse of angry Samseunghalmang. Jeongsunami, disobedient to his owner Jacheongbi, tries to rape her and is eventually killed by Jacheongbi. He is nevertheless revived by her and becomes a god. In these myths, the ways in which each character establishes their own relational self are notable. The half-heroes play a catalytic role for the heroes to develop various potential power and exert inherent features by confronting the half-heroes with a series of attacks and defense in the mythical world. In the process of the games they recognize strong points of their competitors, learn from each other, and then they all become a god. The half-heroes’ struggles inevitably participate in the growth of heroes and prevent them from ending uo with a two-dimensional flat character. In addition, the conflicts between the half-heroes and the heroes and ensuing consequences generate many binary oppositions in the myths. These binaries are not static and perpetual but are extinct, exchangeable, and coexist each other. Indeed, the half-heroes enact as a hero in mythology.