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Causationism and a ruind country story: the principle of making plot in The Prince Maui(마의태자)
Chunwon Research journal
Abbr :
Chunwon Research journal
2018, (12), pp.89-124
Publisher : Chunwon Research Society
Research Area : Korean Literature
2018, (12), pp.89-124
Publisher : Chunwon Research Society
Research Area : Korean Literature
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Kwangsoo Lee’s historical novels are generally examined in the aspect of his nationalism. But the novel The Prince Maui is exceptional because it is different from other historical novels such as A Tragedy of Dan-jong(단종애사), Lee Soon-shoin(이순신), which cite various historical documents of Jo-seon Dynasty. The temporal setting of The Prince Maui is Shilla, and Lee use fictional imagination borrowing action-play structure. But the discourse of his own nationalism influence on this story, especially the level of plot organization. Lee describe leaders' fate under the belief on causationism, which is formed with his nationalistic thought. It is different from the purpose of examining historical events. It is rather closely related to Lee's argument of social reconstruction, known as publishing National Reformation(민족개조론) in 1922. Causationism which is influenced by natural science is kind of premise of his argument of preparation in 1910s. He insist the will of change for independency with the social context of forming the League of Nations. But in 1922, shortly after returning from Shang-hai, Lee gave up all expectation for independency diplomatically at this point. Instead of that, he make his own thought, national reformation. He insist reforming one's own being, throwing away 'bad feelings' such as fallacy, laziness. And it is closely related protestant's ethics, which is represented as repentance. He also had interest on Buddhist causationism in 1920s in this situation. So the agent who repent one's own guilty appears his main novels in middle of 1920s such as Reborn(재생) and The Prince Maui(마의태자). As a ruind coundtry story, The Prince Maui(마의태자) contains various leaders who rise and fall in the flow of history. If he(she) loses his(her) virtue of leader, he(she) face the fate of falling which is strictly decided. The implied author of this story is someone who strongly believing the principle of causationism, which is reminded of real author, Kwangsoo Lee in 1920s.
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