고전소설의 여성영웅 비교연구 : ｢玉樓夢｣·｢朴氏傳｣·｢洪桂月傳｣·｢方翰林傳｣을 중심으로

Abstract

This study analyzes the heroic illustrations and femaleness of the main characters in the following four heroine fictions – Okrumong, Parkssijeon, Hongkyewoljeon, and Banghanrimjeon. It compares the illustrations of each fiction’s female character in terms of heroism and femaleness and analyzes the differences of the characters’ personalities in the imagery developments. This study categorizes and particularly evaluates the female characters’ heroic illustrations at wars and the feminine interpretations at home. The most apparent common feature of the heroines in the four fictions is that the main characters have greater abilities than men. Those abilities are the foresight of interpreting dreams, constellation, secrets of nature and others in addition to Taoist magic skills in Parkssi of Parkssijeon, fencing skills in Hongkyewol of Hongkyewoljeon, the fencing and archery skills and disposition strategies of character Banggwanju of Banghanrimjeon and Gangnamhong of Okrumong. Another common feature is that even though those heroines go to battles dressed up like men, they are not punished, but rather earn greater positions as perceived they are better than men. However, there are differences in preparation of wars. While learning martial arts, Parkssi of Parkssijeon is illustrated as a woman from Heaven, Banggwanju of Banghanrimjeon teaches herself the skills, Hongkyewol of Hongkyewoljeon and Gangnamhong of Okrumong master various martial arts from an ascetic. Another difference lies in military tactic resourcefulness and negotiation skills: Parkssi of Parkssijeon prepares for countermeasures with her foresight; Hongkyewol of Hongkyewol jeon aggressively demands the enemy’s surrender; Banggwangju of Banghanrim jeon requests the surrender with a manifesto; and Gangnamhong of Okrumong suggests a stratagem to enemies to surrender. The heroines of the four fictions commonly have some kinds of obstacles at home in terms of endearment and conjugal relations: Parkssi of Parkssijeon is identified as an ‘ugly woman’ Hongkyewol of Hongkyewoljeon is illustrated as ‘a woman superior than men’; Banggwangju of Banghanrimjeon enters a homosexual marriage; and Gangnamhong of Okrumong has a reputation of a concubine. Furthermore, the four fictions have different relationship processes: An parents arranges Parkssi’s marriage in Parkssijeon; emperor arranges Hongkyewol’s marriage in Hongkyewoljeon; the parents of Banggwangju arrange a match; and Gangnamhong of Okrumong fell in love with hero and got married. Another apparent difference in the characters is their ways to overcome difficulties. Hongkyewol of Hongkyewoljeon make efforts to find her feminine identity, but Banggwangju of Banghanrimjeon does not search for her identity and chooses to end her life with a masculine identity. In Okrumong and Parkssijeon, Gangnamhong and Parkssi do not face an identity crisis. The study analyzes the similarities and differences of the following four fictions: Okrumong, Parkssijeon, Hongkyewoljeon, and Banghanrimjeon. This comparison shows a unique aspect of Gangnamhong’s femaleness and heroism that illustrates the amplified ideal characteristics of other characters. Despite the limited scale of the analysis, this study provides a foundation work in the evaluation of heroine fictions.