귀신 이야기의 기호학

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This article aims to analyze the 'Ghost stories' through a semiotic method and to reconsider the meaning of 'ghost' in the narratives.
A 'Ghost story' is defined as a story where a 'ghost' is the main character, i.e., a supernatural being that belongs to the realm of fantasy. Generally, in such stories, the ghosts have two different means to realize their desires; one is to attack the opponent directly, the other one involves an agent. The two modes can be further divided into four different types according to the final results - sucess and failure.
In the cases where a direct attack takes place, human beings usually have superior information compared to the ghosts, and therefore the ghosts are easily defeated. We can see how the ghost's desire is frustrated and how human beings are supposed to be superior to ghosts.
On the contrary, in the cases of agent-attack, ghosts impart their knowledge and information on the agent and control him to achieve what they want. The desire of the ghost is always realized, because they are superior to humans in this type of narrative.
The ghost stories invoke both hesitation and horror with readers and the characters in the stories; however, they show how an unsatisfactory state is overcome and improved. From this point of view, the ghost stories are not dark or gloomy anymore, but instead they head for the brightness and criticize irregularities and corruption in a roundabout way. Moreover, the stories are based upon the ethical judgement that good overcomes evil.
The ghost appears when he is unable to make any appeal to defend himself. His apparition is one of the 'protective device' that is devised when it is impossible to cope with the situation. Therefore, the basic desire of human beings is hidden inside the ghost stories.