<흥부전>의 인식 변이 양상

Abstract

<Heungbujeon> has been loved by the people as one of the best classical novels in Korea. It is shining further as time lapses although most of the literary works disappear in history. <Heungbujeon> is characterized by transitional aspects the most among Korean classical novels. So far, it has been considered that the theme of <Heungbujeon> is enhancing ethics between brothers pursuing for promotion of virtue and reproval of vice. However, the theme also includes a social intention to correct wrong conventions of society. The superficial theme of the <Heungbujeon> is to promote ethics while the inner theme is to promote social consciousness to change the society of vertical relationships into that of horizontal relationships. It was intended to change the hierarchical relationships between older brothers and younger brothers into the equal relationships. Heungbu is a person of the past while Nolbu is a modern person who designs the future, throwing away conventions. The modern sense of value is focusing on Nolbu-type people. The novel was first loved by the common people and women, but as time lapsed, it spread to the whole people because of mass media. As it meets emotion of the modern people, its attractiveness lies in the life of modern Nolbu rather than that of Heungbu. Nolbu's role in scenes of <Heungbujeon> is bigger and more important.