The purpose of this study is to pay attention to Jeju maritime novels which we haven’t recognized properly, investigate the characteristics of Jeju maritime novels and furthermore identify the meaning and value of Jeju maritime novels containing Jej...
The purpose of this study is to pay attention to Jeju maritime novels which we haven’t recognized properly, investigate the characteristics of Jeju maritime novels and furthermore identify the meaning and value of Jeju maritime novels containing Jeju special features.
The subjects of this paper are limited to works in which maritime experience appeared prominently among novels written by writers from Jeju since 1970s when the modern literature began in earnest in Jeju literature history. The subjects are a total of six novels such as Ko, SiHong’s “drifting Ieodo(표류하는 이어도)” (1980), Hyun, GiYoung’s “Island riding the wind(바람 타는 섬)” (1989), Hong, MyungJin’s “Sumbisori(숨비소리)” (2009), Oh, SeongChan’s “Fishermen(어부들)” (1971) and “Bojegi left at night(보제기들은 밤에 떠난다)” (2000) and Oh, KyungHoon’s “Fishing pier(어선부두)” (2005).
Main agents of Jeju maritime novels are classified into ‘Jeju Haenyeo (female diver)’ and ‘Bojegi (fisherman in Jeju dialect)’. Jeju Haenyeos are the existences depending on Sea in order to live in the land. Jeju Haenyeos in novels show the life synchronizing with Sea through internalization against Sea. In addition, Bojegis appear in novels as unsophisticated existence overcoming the difficulties based on wisdom of life they have obtained from Jeju Sea.
Recognition of space appearing in Jeju maritime novels can be divided into ‘living space through a sense of community’, ‘space of pray through shamanism’ and ‘space of promotion and transfer of culture’. It is confirmed that Jeju Sea appearing in each novel is the space reflecting particularities of culture and history and it has different patterns from other maritime novels.
Likewise, as a result of analyzing Jeju maritime novels focused on main agents of experience and recognition of space, the characteristics of Jeju maritime novels can be summarized into three points. First, main agents appearing in the narration of Jeju maritime novels are mostly women unlike maritime novels in other regions. Second, Sea space of Jeju maritime novels is coastal Sea (offshore) as a main stage. Third, Jeju maritime novels faithfully contain culture of Jeju Sea as sub-literature. Ultimately, taken together these features of Jeju maritime novels, it is confirmed that Jeju Sea is penetrated deeply into lives of people in Jeju and Jeju Sea has the Jeju maritime novels which are meaningful and valuable subjects.
This study has significance because it is the first earnest attempt to find the infinite possibilities of Jeju maritime novels. It is expected that this study triggers more active discussion about Jeju maritime novels in the future.