essay

On “Kyonghui”

Primary Question: In what way does Kyonghui differentiate traditional Korean women from

modern Korean women?

Claim: Kyonghui suggests the generalization of all traditional Korean women by dehumanizing

them into their own category, separate from “new” women. Kyonghui’s claim about traditional

women, however, is not justified and is contradicted by her interactions with various women

throughout the story.

BODY

1. Kyonghui makes a claim/implication about “old” women. Kyonghui is a well-educated

young woman exposed to Western culture and education in Japan. Upon returning home,

she is faced with being arranged to marry someone by her family. In her desperation to

avoid traditional arranged marriage, she hastily embraces a new modern perspective of

women.

a. Newfound rationale consists of he idea that “women who live of their husbands,

who in turn live on the inheritance from their ancestors, are no different from our

family dog” (85)

i. Traditional marriage  woman bound to husband and his household

ii. Dependence on a husband

iii. Therefore, those who follow such traditional custom s are not better than

an animal that gains its living from its human master  they are not

human beings

b. “human beings have the capacity to think and create, which is impossible for

animals” (85)

i. Implies lack of knowledge and understanding in traditional women who

Kyonghui views as animals

ii. Only through enlightenment can one become a human being who

experiences deep thought 9exercises an intellect) and emotion

c. The enlightenment she experiences “[throws her] into ecstasy” (86)

i. Overcome with excitement, and it this excitement she embraces the

categorization of women into old and new, animals and humans – all at

once, simultaneously

d. When Korea is undergoing dramatic transitions, contemplating the meeting of

tradition and modernity, the new generation is eager to accept modern, Western

thought as Kyonghui does

2. The interactions Kyonghui has with “old” women counters her claims about them.

a. In-law lady changes her opinion about young girls’ receiving education,

especially in Japan after she herself questions Kyonghui’s decisions

i. Her mere ability to think such things shows her ability to think

ii. Is able to understand despite her previous traditional views

iii. Clear display of an “old” woman’s ability to alter her opinions – even the

mere existence of her opinions (whether they conform to tradition or not)

prove her ability to comprehend and think contradicting Kyonghui’s claim

iv. Despites her disbelief of the benefits of girls’ education, in the end she

decides that “girls should be educated just like [Kyonghui]” (68).

b. Kyonghui’s mother, too, serves as a counter argument to Kyonghui’s

generalization.

i. At first Mrs. Yi did not understand the necessity of sending Kyonghui all

the way to Japan to receive an education

ii. However, she comes to realize that “in direct proportion to one’s

education, one would command respect from others and also get a high

salary” (67).

iii. She is able to comprehend cohesively – an animal would not be able to do

such. An animal, Kyonghui implies, cannot think, it cannot formulate its

own thoughts, yet here Mrs. Yi contemplates the question and hand and

comes a definite conclusion. Whether or not that means agreeing on the

matter of female education, her ability to consider her daughter’s position

reveals her intellectual ability to understand regardless of whether or not

she agrees

iv. Indeed “each time Kyonghui gave Mrs. Yi a piece of her mind, Mrs. Yi

could see her point quite well, although she didn’t say so openly” (76)

c. Kyonghui’s assumption of all traditional Korean women is not substantiated. She

comes to an abrupt conclusion that easily categorizes women into old versus new

with no evidence or basis. Even today, Kyonghui’s assumptions about Korean

women are existent (prevalent) today in the ideas that Asian women are

submissive and passive. But, in fact, there is nothing that supports this stereotype

3. Kyonghui’s claim does not do anything for her – it gives her no direction.

a. Receiving an education all the way in Japan she wants to become a human being

i. Quote

ii. But what is a human being without a purpose?

iii. Comes back from Japan and does housework

1. Contradictory in itself because she upholds her traditional role (and

efficiently at that) while so strongly opposing tradition, despite her

Western exposure/Westernized education that has prompted her to

make such generalizations about traditional women

b. “Oh my goodness what am I supposed to do?” (81)

i. Repeated question

ii. Yet after her enlightenment and her decision to not get married, she is

unsure of what to do as a “human being” she claims to be

iii. Turns to God for answers because she cannot find her own

iv. “she was totally at a loss what to do with herself” (81)

1. But her not knowing what to do is not resolved at the end of the

novel