신소설의 담론윤리

Narrative Ethics in Shinsoseol

The main theme of Shinsoseol, the new-style fiction, is moral law. In this fiction, morals still remain as custom and a factor of moral enlightenment This fiction vividly describes moral human beings and conditions of their times. The lives of moral human beings are made in accordance with traditional convention. Moral consciousness obtained from this convention is reflected in the narrative structure of the fiction it causes. Characters described in Shinsoseol can be called Confucian men. They are the most important characters in the fiction. Women's virtue is represented most prominently in the fiction. The Shinsoseol shows women's virtue remarkably. This belongs to Confucian filial duty and chastity and leads the content and plot of the story. The narrative structure of Shinsoseol has unique pattern showing women's behavior in relation to morals. Moral obligation conceives the man of duty. Shinsoseol takes its moral obligation from aristocratic heroic fiction. Family is related to the story pattern of the fiction. Shinsoseol accepts the ideal conclusion of reconciliation discovered in Gososeol, the old-style fiction. To fulfill this conclusion, family is highly relevant Characters return to their families where their problems are cured. There has been Confucianism in their consciousness for a long time. Union of family is another primary theme of the new-style narrative structure. In relation to moral enlightenment, Shinsoseol follows Gososeol. The narrative schema of Shinsoseol is combined with moral values. This narrative pattern is formed on moral sympathy of the enlightenment period. Sympathy is employed to understand others' emotion with imagination, and it is a very important feature. Shinsoseol has to consider the morals of narrative deeply. A characteristic of the new-style fiction can be found by reading a lot of fiction carefully. This study is about finding a schema of family narrative.