A Study on “Jusaengjeon” seen through Perspective of the Dreamlike-story : Jusaeng's Desire being reflected in Image of Baedo and Sunhwa

Abstract

"Jusaengjeon" is a romance that represents historical changes in literature of the late Joseon Dynasty and has been discussed by many researchers. However, in each study, different opinions have been drawn over all areas related to the internal and external interpretations of the work. Therefore, the concept of dreamlike-story was proposed by a former researcher to understand "Jusaengjeon" clearly as a romance with enhanced reality. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the narrative of "Jusaengjeon" by actively applying the concept of dreamlike-story. In this regard, Jeondang and Hoju, the dreamlike spaces in narrative, and the encounter with Baedo and Sunhwa held in it, were all considered as projection of Jusaeng's desire suppressed in reality. As a result of analyzing the narrative from that point of view, I revealed that Jeondang is a space for resolving jusaeng's desire to be recognized and to have a background for goodwill, while the former desire is reflected in Baedo and the latter in Sunhwa. However, the two desires were forced to collide with each other even though they were adjacent. Accordingly, Jusaeng, Baedo, and Sunhwa were forced to conflict due to the conflict between the two desires that occurred within Jusaeng's inner side, and thus the narrative of "Jusaengjeon" was bound to be a tragedy.