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영어

Lee In-jik's the new-style novel, ‘the World of Silver’ appeared in 1908 when Korea was trying to move toward modern nation to overcome its national crisis. ‘the World of Silver’ was a literary record describing the main political and social situation of the period, often called the Era of Enlightenment. From a view of Gerard Genette's Narratology, I would like to consider the characteristic of literary record and political discourse focused on expansion and diminution of main plot in ‘World of Silver’. Detailed summary is as below. In the first part, the writer criticized an absolute monarchy as well as bureaucracy tyrannies by interpreting Choi Byoung-do(main character)' death as a sacrifice. Meanwhile, Choi Byoun-do became a voluntary victim by refusing an insurrection and compromise with impropriety, which conveys a message of revolution to the readers. In the latter, political situation was abridged because of the limited space, but mostly because he couldn't help avoiding the matter to introduce Japan as a model of modernization and new education. Therefore, he lessened the rich's financial condition and as if Kim Ok-kyun's purpose of reforms, foundation of administrative reform, was confined to new education. Especially he omitted to write the details of Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty of 1907 right after Emperor Gojong's abdication and Emperor Sunjong's enthronement and had a negative view of Righteous Army's movement, which made him called pro-Japan author. Consequently, literary merit of ‘World of Silver’ is to be effectively spoken for the political discourse to the readers by repeating the term, ‘revolution’ through out the story. The author, Lee In-jik's top priority is to reform corrupt incompetent monarchy in order to tide over the national difficulties. He thought the best way to do that was not to raise the violent anti-Japanism army but to enlighten the public based on ‘New-education’.