KJCKorea
Journal Central

The narrative aesthetics of 〈Jusaengjeon〉 are remarkable in terms of following three composition aspects. First is the aspect regarding ‘Lack of subordinate relationship’. The narration in 〈Jusaengjeon〉 aims for exclusive composition that characters cannot perpetually possess one another. The breakdown of love triangle is due to the special circumstances represented by ‘Lack of subordinate relationship’, rather than ‘Lack of affection’. Second is the aspect of sexual discourse through colors. The showy colors surrounding the heroine reflected from the view of male character are the symbol of sexual discourse. It presents sensational description of sexual desires rather than avoiding direct exposure of sexual desires. The narration attempting to satisfy sexual sensations through colors is based on self-censorship of sexual desires, diluted in accordance with the ideology and convention of the period. Third aspect is ‘Choices to aim for destination-oriented life’. Jusaeng is a character who pursues a life on the road towards the destination. Followed by repeated failure in state examinations, he forgoes his confined mind and enters the road towards destination. Jusaeng’s road towards destination is triggered by spiritual limitations rather than material momentum. It can be presumed that he will continue his life on the road towards destination, looking for another place to find peace in mind, whenever he reaches the ideal limitation. That is the reason why Jusaeng shares affection with two women but leaves them without being able to depend on either one of those two women. The story delivers the message that, a life cannot be understood based on honors and love, thus happiness and desires pursued by a human should be variable and discontinuous. 〈Jusaengjeon〉 succeeded the deficiencies in life that had not been fulfilled in the previous narrations, such as collapse of an individual life followed by love affairs, ephemerality, and violent pressure of the world. Also, it leaves the reality as it is regarding conflicts in love and honors, while duplicating the fact that humans of the period faced limitations. The literary value of 〈Jusaengjeon〉is significant in a sense that it examined the realistic issues of a person living the period through narration of deficiencies.

Jusaengjeon, Narrative sexuality, Colors, Narration of road towards destination, Narration of deficiencies, Classical novel