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A study on the literary imagination and cultural consciousness for 'friends·friendships' -Taking notice of the discourses of 'Request' and 'Betrayal'-

  • Journal of Korean Literature
  • 2017, (36), pp.255-297
  • Publisher : The Society Of Korean Literature
  • Research Area : Humanities > Korean Language and Literature
  • Published : November 30, 2017

Inkyung Lee 1

1인제대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In this study, I examined the literary imagination and cultural consciousness of “friends and friendship” in Korean Oral Narratives which have been passed on oral tradition and by books. The themes of the events appearing in the folktales of “friendship” are mainly based on “request” and “betrayal.” The dominant cultural consciousness was such that a true friend would do his friend a favor even at the sacrifice of his morality and life. Since rejection of a favor was considered as an act of betrayal, those who were asked for a favor of a friend would do as requested in spite of the moral flaws of the requests. The "favors" in disguise of friendship had often caused a moral clash with the public order. they had turned blind eyes to the corruption of their friends, helped their illegal activities, and even arrogates their public authorities. It had proved that everything is tolerated and beautified by the name of his "loyalty to a friend", even if the action undermines social justice, public order, moral norms, and universal ethics of human beings,The imagination of folktales had devised “Friendship test” as the most effective strategy to distinguish a true friend from a potential traitor. This has a serious problem, however, of that there is no considering and respecting the other's independence and privacy. Also, the perspective of regarding a friend as one's alter ego emphasizes the intimacy of friendship, while reveals the violence to control his friend according to his own desire without recognizing the importance of individuality of the counterpart. The imagination of Korean folktales and cultural consciousness only emphasized the infinite utility of “friendship” but did not reflect on the violence and criminality of “request” and “conspiracy” which are occurred by the name of "loyalty". A friend should be considered as a subject of love, respect, care and sympathy, not an adjunct to control at my own discretion or an assistant satisfying my needs. A friend is a good teacher who helps me mature my personality. And a friend is a good life partner, a purpose in itself, not a means to gain profits. Not Keeping guard against our friend's betrayal but check the question whether I behave myself sincerely as a true friend. In short, Birds of a feather flock together. In a follow-up study, I will research how to create new friends and become true friends by surveying the folktales that show positive examples of friendship.

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