<현씨양웅쌍린기>의 서사적 힘; 웃음

Abstract

HyunShiYangWoongShangLinKi, written in the late 18th century during the Joseon Dynasty period. was a interesting story by using people`s emotion expressions ranging from laugh to tear. The work was especially known for highlighting spousal conflicts though the use of humor. However, previous research has not adequately explained this use of comedy, its functions, and the deeper meaning in the work. The purpose of this study is to find the reason why readers at that time enjoyed the work by examining the context of its humor. First of all, to the observer it is obvious that the work utilizes various kinds of laugh. These will be looked at. The third chapter describes the causes and effects of the laugh. For example, some male characters display amusement as a result of their own egotistic behavior, while others react to women’s physical appearances, obscene behaviors, and/or other deviations from the social norm in during 18th century Joseon Dynasty. In addition, most of the characters(except Hyn`s brothers and their spouses) do not act seriously even though the play encompasses many serious and complex problems. In short, what would normally be seen as a serious situation(such as where Hyn`s brother is engaged in marital conflict)is converted to amusement through the use of comedy. In conclusion, Joseon era readers enjoyed experiences where laughter or consecutive laughter arose as an intended result of the writer who wrote about serious situations portrayed by comical characters and comic events that were continually connected by next narratives. This is especially true in HyunShiYangWoongShangLinKi. Readers of this period enjoyed the work without any social pressure to moralize because serious subjects are treated comically and light―heartedly by the author.