「임화정연」 소재 ‘첩 관련 서사’의 양상과 그 의미

Abstract

Basically, Korean classical novels are aimed at ideological, ethical narration. To identify the characteristic aspect of <LimHwaJungYeon(임화정연)>, a Korean classical novel, this research focused on concubine-related narration that appears in the work. Among many stories that comprise the work, the reason this research focused on the concubine-related narration was that, unlike other Korean classical novels, <LimHwaJungYeon(임화정연)> spares much of its volume with narration about concubines, while not dealing with the conflicts between lawful wife and concubines, and shows delicate attitude of narrating. In chapter 2, the types of concubines that appears in the work are examined, thus what the narration about them tries to carry is reviewed. Broadly, concubines from the work can be categorized into four types: those who are to satisfy lust, those who are by the order from the emperor, those who are for sons, and those who are to deliver labor. Among them, narrations about first three types, who can be easily found from other Korean classical novels, more or less contributed to delivering ethical and universal subjects. However, while sticking to ideological frames, concubines of the last type practically and concretely showed the matters of personal desire, emotion and pain, thus named as 'working concubines' and given a separate chapter to be examined(chapter 3). In the process of portraying daughters from a poor noble village family and a fallen pedigree family as concubines, the work feelingly depicts their behaviors at homes and relationships they made in accordance with their respective circumstances and experiences, and describes the mentalities and behaviors of their husbands and the lawful wives with whom they come into conflicts as well. In chapter 4, based on what's dealt with in chapter 2 and 3, this research reviewed the characteristics and importance that the concubine-related narration in the work has. Expansion of practicality and dailiness can be pointed out as main characteristics of the work as the concubine-related narration shows. <LimHwaJungYeon(임화정연)>don't just see concubines as problematic individuals who cause conflicts with husbands and with lawful wives, instead it shows the characters' respective environments they face. Meanwhile, with its interests in peripheral characters and their lives, and in the down-to-earth things as triviality, vulgarness and personal emotions, <LimHwaJungYeon(임화정연)> shows enhanced dailiness. Especially, by showing the conflicts between characters repeatedly instead of solving problems dramatically, the work shows the problems going on soaked in lives naturally. This corresponds with the repeatability, a characteristic of daily life, and shows the distinguishing aspect of the concubine-related narration in <LimHwaJungYeon(임화정연)> well.