Chunhyangjun and "Romeo and Juliet": A comparative study

Abstract

Comparative literature is critical scholarship dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups in order to understand as well as compare writings of different countries, language and cultures. This study was a descriptive and qualitative research using content analysis of Korean novel "ChunhyangJun" and English tragedy "Romeo and Juliet". The other approaches were mimetic approach, comparative approach, genre analysis, sociological approach, thematic approach, formalistic approach, gender-feminism approach and linguistic approach. This study explored the novel and the tragedy presenting women characters who are in love and how they are affected by love's pain. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following questions: 1. How are the themes of love and pain depicted in the Korean novel ChunhyangJun and in the English tragedy and Juliet? In answer to problem 1, the authors depicted themes of love and pain using the women as central characters who experience the very powerful human emotion. They described these heroines undergoing young love, romantic/passionate love, innocent love and mature love. While the themes of love and pain were presented by the authors, their treatment differed. Both heroines were women in love, women suffering because of love, these women were affected by strict social class, parental authorities in different ways. 2. How are the themes of love and pain depicted through the following elements? a) Plot b) Character c) Symbols d) Language In answer to problem 2, the themes of love and pain were depicted through: a) The rough plot, the authors' use of series of incidents: meeting, separation, pain, reunion and external, internal conflict. b) In the depiction of characters, the authors used developing characters. In the beginning the heroines were not only young but beautiful, attractive, submissive who late, were transformed into strong- willed, mature women. c) Through symbols, the authors used the following: flower, prison, room and tomb. d) Finally, in language use, the authors portrayed the themes of love and pain through language use like representative verdictives, directives, commissives and expressives. These functions of language were also seen in the following: questioning, starting, warning, affirming, complaining, explaining and responding. The following conclusions were drawn based on the findings of the study: 1. Love and pain in the novel and tragedy were depicted differently. 2. Literary elements were strongly portrayed the universality of the theme "love". 3. Both pairs of lovers represent East and from West. The authors call attention to universality of love. To end up both, authors trade love as a very powerful human feeling experienced by lovers. In view of the findings seen in this study, the following recommendations were given: 1. Other themes can be explored using more materials from Eastern and Western literatures. The thematic explorations can include other genres. 2. Studies can be conducted using other literary elements like point of view, dramatic ironies and figurative language. 3. A comparative studies course can be offered in the masteral level to broaden the literary awareness and heighten students' appreciation of different views of people and authors. 4. A forum can be organized by school heads and counselors to be attended by both parents and their teen age children where there could be a wholistic presentation of the dimensions of love, sex, and marriage. 5. Humans could not live without love. In here, love identifies relations between opposite sex. Love is passion. Love is flame. It is a blazing fire. Love is the reaction burning in the human body. It is physical love. There is no greater pleasure among humans than sexual relationship. It is the highest delight and highest ecstasy.