일반논문 : 정비석의 『자유부인』과 남성 지식인의 불안』

『Madame Freedom』, written by Bi-Seok Jeong, was sensational at that time because it described women’s deviation and roaming in an unconventional way. The deviation of the heroine of the novel who becomes addicted to dancing and abandons her family created a chasm on the traditional images of women and caused an impact on the society. The novel has been understood as a reflection of the national turmoil in 1950s. On the other hand, another interpretation has been attempted that 『Madame Freedom』 was, due to the influence of liberalism, a struggle against male dominance and towards female independence. However, aside from the former view, this article focuses on men’s anxiety resulted from the collapse of the society of intellectuals. In addition, ‘the Hangul Simplification Shock’, which was appalling to intellectuals, will be reviewed. The shock was caused by the regulation which was implemented by President Rhee Syngman for the revision of the premodern rules of spelling. On account of the shock, not only did intellectuals lose their vested rights and ground on their field, they were endangered to lose their identities. The whole group of intellectuals started to protest against the regulation, and eventually it ends up as a mere commotion. The novel arranged all this at the background. The hero of the novel, who is one of intellectuals, recovers his damaged reputation dramatically by showing his prestige and dignity at a public hearing on Hangul simplification. And it was the major reason that made the wife decide to return home. This article thoroughly addresses forgery that lies in female independence, and the true nature of the anxiety that the particular group of men had, who were intellectual, and eventually what the anxiety signifies.