본고는 <홍계월전>을 대상으로 여성영웅이라는 주체의 출현이 작품 내에서 어떻게 구현되어 있는지, 여성영웅의 탄생 및 영웅성의 발현과 지속에 작품 내 인물들은 구체적으로 어떤 기능을 하고 있는지를 살핀 것이다. 타자와 맺고 있는 관계, 그 관계의 변화에 따라 주체의 삶이 구성되고 변화되기도 한다는 점에서, 여성영웅의 탄생과 성장 과정 속의 타자의 역할은 주목할 만하다. 계월이 영웅으로 성장해 나가는 데 기틀을 마련한 타자들로는 계월의 부모, 곽도사, 그리고 계월을 구출하여 양육한 여공 등이 있다. 남주인공 보국은 계월과 경쟁하며 그녀의 영웅적 능력을 돋보이게도 하고, 계월과 갈등하며 여성영웅으로서 계월의 위치를 재점검하는 기회도 제공한다. 또한 보국은 계월과 상호 협력과 인정의 관계로 나아가면서 ‘여성영웅’인 계월이 자신이 맺고 있는 구체적 삶들과 어떤 관계를 형성해야 하는지를 시사하는 역할을 하는 타자이다. 한편 가부장제를 표상하는 천자, 조정 대신, 시부 등은 오히려 여성영웅의 성장과 유지를 돕는 네트워크를 구성하고 있는데, 이들의 관계망은 그 자체로도 의미가 있지만 보국과 계월이 서로를 주체로 인정하고 협력하는 관계로 나아가는 데도 일정한 기여를 한 타자들이다. 결국 여성영웅은 영웅으로 성장할 수 있도록 기반을 만들어준 인물들, 그 영웅성을 발현할 수 있도록 경쟁하고 협력했던 인물, 여성임이 드러난 이후에도 영웅성을 펼쳐 나가도록 지지하고 옹호했던 인물들과의 관계 속에서 탄생하였음을 알 수 있다. 이는 여성영웅의 경우도 마찬가지인데, 여성영웅 또한 타자들과 상호 인정과 협력 관계로 나아가지 못한다면 궁극적으로 여성영웅의 삶을 안정적으로 유지할 수 없음을 의미한다. 여성영웅의 탄생과 성장은 여성영웅이 타자들과 긴밀하게 조응하며 상호 인정의 관계를 형성하였기에 가능했던 서사라고 할 수 있다.

This study researched how the emergence of the subject who was a female hero embodied in Hong-kyewol-jeon, and how other characters in the work functioned in the emergence and persistence of the female hero’s appearance and the female hero’s ability. The role of the others who contributed to the appearance and growth of female hero was worthy of notice in that the life of the subject was constructed and was changed depending on the relationship with the others and the change of their relation. In the work, kyewol’s parents, the ascetic Kwak and Yeogong who rescued and raised Kyewol, were the others who arranged the foundation that she was growing as the female hero. The male main character, Boguk redounded kyewol’s ability as he competed her, provided opportunities that kyewol’s status was readdressed as he conflicted with her and hinted how Kyewol as the female hero entered into a relation in the others. On the other hand, the king, the high-ranking officials and father-in-law and so on, who was represented patriarchal system, constructed the networks that they helped the growth and persistence of female hero. This relation network was worthy in an end in itself. Furthermore, they were the others who contributed to change the relation of Boguk and Kyewol positively. As a result, this means that female hero could be appeared in the relation with the others who provided the basis of her growth as female hero, made her be exposed hero's properties through competition and cooperation, and supported her after the fact that Kyewol was a female came out in the open. This means that if female hero didn't advance to the mutual recognition and cooperation, ultimately, the life of female hero could not be persisted stably. The emergence and growth of the female hero was the narration that could be appeared because the female hero entered into a close relation with the others and mutually recognized on another.

This study researched how the emergence of the subject who was a female hero embodied in Hong-kyewol-jeon, and how other characters in the work functioned in the emergence and persistence of the female hero’s appearance and the female hero’s ability. The role of the others who contributed to the appearance and growth of female hero was worthy of notice in that the life of the subject was constructed and was changed depending on the relationship with the others and the change of their relation. In the work, kyewol’s parents, the ascetic Kwak and Yeogong who rescued and raised Kyewol, were the others who arranged the foundation that she was growing as the female hero. The male main character, Boguk redounded kyewol’s ability as he competed her, provided opportunities that kyewol’s status was readdressed as he conflicted with her and hinted how Kyewol as the female hero entered into a relation in the others. On the other hand, the king, the high-ranking officials and father-in-law and so on, who was represented patriarchal system, constructed the networks that they helped the growth and persistence of female hero. This relation network was worthy in an end in itself. Furthermore, they were the others who contributed to change the relation of Boguk and Kyewol positively. As a result, this means that female hero could be appeared in the relation with the others who provided the basis of her growth as female hero, made her be exposed hero's properties through competition and cooperation, and supported her after the fact that Kyewol was a female came out in the open. This means that if female hero didn't advance to the mutual recognition and cooperation, ultimately, the life of female hero could not be persisted stably. The emergence and growth of the female hero was the narration that could be appeared because the female hero entered into a close relation with the others and mutually recognized on another.

female hero, Hong-kyewol-jeon, the others, the subject, mutual recognition