Abstract

This paper researches how Park Noh-hae, who had struggled during his life as a popular poet and labor-emancipator in 1800s when feminism literature became serious on a full scale, describes women especially in his collection of poems-"Dawn of Labor" and "The True Beginning". As a result, three kinds of womanhood in his works have been deduced. First, the man speaker begins to recognize the unfairness between men and women by experiencing the share of housework. That is, comparing with absolutism under patriarchism and the oppressive labor situation under capitalism, he realizes that his behavior is the same as that of women. Although those women who are described through such realization appear to be "a good wife and wise mother" in his poem, it makes some difference compared to the traditional "good wife and wise mother" by illustrating the women who have strong comrade-awareness as working women. Second, he describes independent strong mothers and activist daughters in contrast with to obedient women. A woman as an activist, who is considered to be identified with a man, stands out as a leader of society. However, an activist woman is ideal only when they unite firmly with men in the field of labor. Ultimately, the woman who a man would want to be within in his whole life is described as a good wife and mother who assume home responsibilities. Third, women are supposed to be responsible with their typical roles such as housework, baby-sitting, looking after and educating their children at home, which have been traditionally regarded as women's original field. However, he gives so-called a "super woman" figure who must take the role of husband when the patriarch are away from home. In conclusion, Park Noh-hae has showed obedient, maternal, strong, and activistic women in a complicated way in the process of practising his ideals.