김혜진의 소설 <딸에 대하여>에 나타난 아이러니적 양상

초록

This study examines how irony and reasoning function in the thematic formation and conflict development in Kim Hye-jin’s novel Concerning My Daughter. Through a female-centered narrative, the novel reevaluates the meaning of family and explores new possibilities for family communities in modern society. It addresses the helplessness of aging, the absence of care, and societal conflicts surrounding sexual minorities, while also investigating the challenges and possibilities of mutual understanding among individuals. While acknowledging previous research, this study focuses on the thematic formation process and the author's consciousness. The novel’s use of irony is closely tied to the pursuit of understanding, highlighting identity through symbolic representation and existential irony. Characters reject conventional titles and seek new identities through self-chosen names. The novel also questions the meaning and potential of care, both as a personal responsibility and as a practice extended to the social sphere. The irony is underscored by the fact that caregiving often stems from unawareness or forgetfulness. The conflicts between a mother in her sixties and her daughter in her thirties over family perceptions reflect a clash between traditional values and modern perspectives. This tension ultimately prompts reflection on the possibilities of reimagining family and forming new communal bonds.

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