KJCKorea
Journal Central

This paper has examined and observed the specific process of the three elements like empathy, catharsis and insight, which are the mechanisms of literary therapeutics. I went into the text of <Dendongeomihwajeon-ga> and organized the process of play and aspects of enjoyment and communication. I also empirically examined the process and aspect of the therapeutics focused on a narrator, main characters, participating women and readers one by one. In other words, I looked over the process of the healing by three layers: (1) Dendongeomi[Dendong mother], (2) young widow, (3) narrator and participating women of Hwajeon play. I have confirmed the nowness by presenting the comfort and encouragement that women in the late Joseon Dynasty would have received through the creation, enjoyment and transmission of Hwajeonga. Dendongeomi talked about her past in front of the participating women of Hwajeon play. I could find out that Dendongeomi discovered herself and escaped from the fateful pain through the story. I also find out that the young widow could have healed solitude and sorrow through the integration of the epic of herself and the epic of the work. The story of the Dendongeomi’s life provided opportunities to heal for the narrator, readers and participating women besides the young widow. In particular, despite her shame, she honestly faced to her past and talked about her deficiency and therefore healed all the participants by her extended sympathy, catharsis and deep insights. The exposing her sorrow and play were a training of honesty and a Self-suggestion to Dendongeomi and the young widow. The spontaneity and creativity can heal oneself and also give the strength to heal others. Their healing process makes participating women and readers aware of the fact that the problem of life is inevitably solved by oneself. It allows us to share the healing experience from the fatal sufferings and the universal unhappiness. As a reader of modern life, I could confirm the present value of Hwajeonga and Hwajeon play as a literary therapeutics. As mentioned above, it is confirmed that the <Dendongeomihwajeonga> has enough value of a literary text for healing.

Hwajeonga, Literary Therapeutics, Communication, Empathy, Catharsis, Insight, Epic of a Literary Work, Epic of Self