Chun Hyang In Korea Analysis

Chun’hyang brought home the social structure found in Korea during that time period. While the other works were informative and gave good glimpses into the societies of that they represented, Chun’hyang was something I feel passionate about. Even with the happy ending, it made me angry. Other works studied touched me in many ways, but this one actually got a major reaction. I found myself actually wanting to yell. I was irate that such a loyal woman would be tested by her husband. Especially after all she went through. In my original essay I wasn’t clear. This woman stood up to someone higher in rank than her, someone who had the power of life and death over her, and still her husband did not find this enough to prove her love for him? Though …show more content…
This man declares undying love and leaves her with no protection, financially or physically. She is totally at the mercy of the new governor.
Chung’Hyang stood for the strength of women and the loyalty that was expected at that time. Even if you’re faced with death, you should always be loyal to your husband. Even if he left you to fend for yourself, you must live only for him. This was used as an example for women at the time. I guess that, for that time period, she also showed that there is hope in climbing out of their lot in life, their social class, if they sacrificed enough. Like the 47 Retainers in Japan, Chun’hyang, shows that neo-Confucianism gutted the original teachings. The governor’s abuse of his power is an example of ignoring Confucius’s teachings on how rulers should treat their subjects. For me, it seems that people took out the best parts of Confucianism, and used only the structure because it suited them. This part of the story did not anger me as much, logically I know power is abused everywhere, in every social setting. I should have been furious at the governor’s treatment of Chun’hyang, yet her husband’s actions were more egregious in that he claims to love