This study was conducted to newly analyse heroines in classic Korean novels from the standpoint of feminism. In previous studies about heroines in classic novels, 'the life of a heroine' as a basic description of general heroine novels had been genera...
This study was conducted to newly analyse heroines in classic Korean novels from the standpoint of feminism. In previous studies about heroines in classic novels, 'the life of a heroine' as a basic description of general heroine novels had been generally used to categorize and analyse the patterns of stories. In this study, however, a formal approach based on a descriptive paragraph to solve the limits of those previous studies was introduced to intensify a feministic study, in addition to a content-oriented approach with the feministic characteristics of heroines.
Chapter 2 was to examine the written context and plot of the novels, after categorized into the social and literature contexts. The social context revealed the contradictions in a male-centered society, and the women's literature trying to raise female consciousness and social position was developed. The literature context showed that there were close relations between works with vertical and horizontal influences.
Based on the application of 22 works into 11 descriptive paragraphs, the aspect of those heroine novels was classified into male & female combination as a basic type, female & female combination as a changed type, and teaching as an extended type. In addition, the aspect was subdivided into acceptance of reality, challenge against reality, and attitude beyond reality in accordance with the female consciousness of heroines and the phases of their self-realization, in order to solve the limit of a formal approach. It was proven by the aspect classification, then, that the formal approach and content-oriented approach were consistent with each other.
Chapter 3 was to analyse in detail the female consciousness and self-realization the heroines achieved in the novels representing each of the aspects, based on the three categories. For example, the novels of "Parkssijeon," "Okjuhojeon" and "Leebongbinjeon" were included in the acceptance of reality, "Hongkyewoljeon," "Cheongsujeongjeon" and "Leehaksajeon" in the challenge against reality, and "Banghanlimjeon" in the attitude beyond reality. The analysed result showed that there was a significant difference between the aspects. The limit of the acceptance of reality was that the abilities of women were used to elevate the status of men, rather than to achieve their self-realization. Although the challenge against reality showed the conflicts and troubles in their relations with males, however, it was shown to be the most developed aspect of female consciousness to achieve their self-realization. The attitude beyond reality was the family-oriented aspect beyond the context while establishing the world for only women, with the exclusion of relations with men.
Chapter 4 was to examine the appropriate compliance of aims the individually categorized heroines in the novels tried to accomplish with the three aspects, with respect to such facts as overcoming over a marriage barrier, pursuing male-female equality and advancing into official positions. The most definite aim was shown in the challenge against reality.
Chapter 5 was to show the difference between heroes and heroines in the novels. The difference was that while the heroes in novels demonstrated their outstanding abilities, the heroines had strong challenge against reality to understand and solve existing problems with social systems.
In conclusion, as shown above, the heroines in the classic Korean novels were categorized into the aspects, such as the acceptance of reality, the challenge against reality and attitude beyond reality, by summarizing the 11 descriptive paragraphs of the heroine novels and the developing phases of female consciousness and self-realization. It was proven by several kinds of works that the three aspects were so useful to categorize the heroine novels and feministic descriptive literature that the new novels could be also applied to know what aspects would be prominent for the future study.