『계서야담』을 통해본 19세기 조선지식인의 여성인식

Abstract

It is presented positive woman’s image on the background of changing social conditions in the 19th century in 『unofficial version of a historical tale`written by Gyuesoe(계서야담)』. Compiler of this book was one of gentleman Noron(노론) Nakron(낙론) faction and was partly influenced by new trend of scholarship and art-emphasis of actual fact and one’s true feelings-. This book was reflected his peculiar woman’s perception and social response of progressive woman’s image. One of selection standard of character and story in this book may be interest. But more than that should be reflected compiler’s perception and value. In those days almost all women in middle class intellectual book became virtuous women by death, so show conservative tendency of middle class intellectual on moral standard of woman. In comparison, this book presented progressive tendency of gentlemen. Compiler of this book acknowledged and highly appraised active and progressive women, for example, spouse choice by women, constructive attitude of life, character learning and vision, insight of man, political sense, domestic management, management of one’s property, amassment fortune, economic power and economical sense. In addition he understood women’s desire and hope and described positively women’s second marriage after one’s husband’s death, flexibility of fidelity, rise of women’s status and position, pursuit of happiness. He simply described kind of virtuous women not to follow husband’s death at once but to commit suicide after performing her duty like service to parents in law, household, adoption, rearing and marrying of an adopted son as inheritor. Women’s pursuit of rising social status and position was fulfilled indirectly through her help to husband’s successful career. Women of working class and low class in this book chose her spouse according to her discernment. They planed rising of her social status and position to be formal wives of common people or concubines of gentle men through helping their husband’s advancement in life. On the other hand, widows of gentle class hid their status, put up with common class life and falling into position of gentlemen’s concubine. In this way, women’s awareness of social state and position mean desire of rising her position as well as rejection of restricted life of social status and presenting of free will for carrying on her life by her choice.