제국과 식민지문학의 매독 표상

Abstract

In the modern Japanese novels, many characters of private-life novels and servicemen suffer from syphilis, as illustrated in Gobusaku by Hōmei Iwano and Atoll by Atsushi Nakajima. The stories centre around the immoral and unkept female named Otori, prostitute females, and so forth. That is, syphilis is represented as a sexually transmitted disease that lower class people suffer from. In the modern Korean novels, on the other hand, syphilis is represented as a civilisation disease that educated males and liberated females suffer from due to the civilisation. In Jiknyeoseong written by Hoon Sim, the protagonist is a son in a rich family, and in The Sick Rose written by Yi Hyoseok, the troupe member who suffers from syphilis is a liberated female. In the case of males, however, syphilis is considered a civilisation disease, whilst in the case of females, it is considered a sexually transmitted disease that promiscuous women suffer from. Also, in Chosun, syphilis is represented as a disease resulting from people’s capitalistic desire. In Muddy Stream written by Man-sik Chae, the female protagonist is sexually appraised, and she ultimately gets infected with syphilis.