현대소설에 표현된 '세대갈등' 모티브 연구

Abstract

In modern Korean history, patriarchal order has shown to consistently erode from 1910 to present. In terms of literary work, the conflicts of generation gap arose while vertical relationship of the family, represented by father, collapsed. After 1910, the modern ideologies were introduced. The new generation that received new education threatened the father’s authority, thus creating departure from the vertical relationship. Moreover, the absence of the father figure during the Korean War of 1950 triggered the changes in patriarchal order within the family. While fathers were absent due to the war, the mothers took over the role. Mothers transformed from fragile women to bread-earner of the family. They placed their son on father’s position and tried to protect the family. During this process, Korean society shifted into industrialized society. The absence of fathers continues on. The family members scatter out in order to survive. As shown, women in the family were able to express where they stand thus leading the family into horizontal relationship. The democratic movement of the 1980s reflected the distrust towards the older generation. The rebellion against the older generation took shape of deviation and death. It was to express the pessimistic view of society. The conflict of generation gap here is not towards the members of the family, but towards the irrationality of the older generation. The younger generation that grew up in the 90s with the materialistic prosperity was able to enjoy various cultural activities, forming a different value system from the older generation. The new generation interested in sex and money. They are not concerned with how to live. With the abolition of vertical family relationship, various attempts to fulfill individual’s desires took place. However, there is hope to reduce the conflict in the mist of all these chaos. Though the younger generation despised their fathers for their absence, they started to accept their fathers. The younger generation admitted that deep in their hearts they longed for their fathers. They accepted fathers as human beings. They viewed their fathers as a blood relation, rather than an authoritarian figure. Moreover, female writers suggested that the feminist literature, which derived as the "mother's" literature, shift its focus back to the family. From such practice, the emphasis on human relationship and understanding of other people became an important issue. In addition, such change of view restored the human relationship and suggested the power of love. If the human relationship takes its root from love, people would be able to understand each other, despite the difference in time and place. During the transition from the patriarchal society to individual society, internal problems that could not surface before took shape of family or personal problem, depending on the situations. The family relationship changes from vertical to horizontal relationship. The concrete sources of the conflict in horizontal society were money, value, and integrity. Yet, the new generation does not have any discord to obtain any of these. It was inevitable to find difference between the two generations. The older generation could not understand the new generation. The new generation objects to the older generation and tries the complete break-off from the older ones. Some may reconcile yet, it is evident that the new generation is trying to disassociate with the outside world. The rupture between human beings takes its extreme as the computer era arise. However, the rupture in the cyber world can be interpreted as the denial of coexistence with others. The literature derived from the cyber world is simply the means to express. The older generation has to interrupt with the literal barrier. The younger generation should use the advantages of the cyber world to facilitate the active communication among themselves. For instance, the anonymity creates equality so that the writers and readers can take active roles in discussions. Modern literature provides different aspects of conflict and the solutions to it. If used properly, it ought to resolve the conflict between generations.