인구와사회협동연구소

이정호의 ≪노인정 산조≫에 나타난 노년 여성의 정체성/ 박선애·김정석/ 2012/ 한국언어문화학회 49집/ 185-211.

<초록>

The rapid population aging and issues of old age have much attention from the soceity and the government. Interest in elderly people and concern on their problems has also reflected in various forms of liberal arts. More recently, novels of old age has put its lights on the lives of and in old age This paper examines how the novel depcits identity in old woman with the case of "Blues of Senior Citizen's Center". Its writer, Jun-Ho Lee, who entered old age herself tries to describe the idetnty as an onl woman in contemporary Korean society. Majority of main figures in the novel are women in old age whose daily lives are viewed from the perspective of observers. In particular the writer through the focal narrator 'woman in Apt, Number 301'illustrates autonomous life in old age. At the same time, this woman objectifies her neighbors bearing eyes on the others. The writer considers the woman as a case of successful aging.

On the surface, the figures are in the similar situation. They live in the same apartment complex and sharing social status. Nonetheless, their lives differ by conflict with family members in different generation, psychical and psychological aging, economic independence. There appears clear differentiation among the elderly women in their community.

Despite its success to deliver differentiated lives of women in old age, the novel is not free from the critics that it lists many different facets of problems in old age. It does not gain full insights into the mentality and consciousness authentic to old age. Furthermorem, by limiting the current situation of the elderly women, it fails to hold the comprehensvie understanding covering their past.