Questioning Minds: Short Stories by Modern Korean Women (Hawaii Studies on Korea) - Softcover

Kim, Yung-hee

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0824834097 ISBN 13: 9780824834098

Publisher: University of Hawai'i Press, 2010

Synopsis

Available for the first time in English, the ten short stories by modern Korean women collected here touch in one way or another on issues related to gender and kinship politics. All of the protagonists are women facing personal crises or defining moments in their lives as gender-marked beings in a Confucian, patriarchal Korean society. Their personal dreams and values have been compromised by gender expectations or their own illusions about female existence. They are compelled to ask themselves 'Who am I?' 'Where am I going?' 'What are my choices?' Each story bears colorful and compelling testimony to the life of the heroine. Some of the stories celebrate the central character's breakaway from the patriarchal order; others expose sexual inequality and highlight the struggle for personal autonomy and dignity. Still others reveal the abrupt awakening to mid-life crises and the seasoned wisdom that comes with accepting the limits of old age. The stories are arranged in chronological order, from the earliest work by Korea's first modern woman writer in 1917 to stories that appeared in 1995 - approximately one from each decade. Most of the writers presented are recognized literary figures, but some are lesser-known voices. The introduction presents a historical overview of traditions of modern Korean women's fiction, situating the selected writers and their stories in the larger context of Korean literature. Each story is accompanied by a biographical note on the author and a brief critical analysis. A selected bibliography is provided for further reading and research.

About this title

About the Author

Yung-Hee Kim is professor of Korean literature in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Hawai'i.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Hawai'i Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0824834097
• ISBN 13: 9780824834098
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 256