She’s a variety of various other [Avoid Web page 270] qualities: a good sexualized, breathtaking system; a desire for socialism; and you may a prospective for domesticity
Sumik’o’s mysterious records is informed me in the future. The lady feminine demeanor derives out of her experience in socialism along with her college degree, which provide her mental credit and set this lady above the updates that Taeyong possess speculatively offered the lady ahead of. Shortly after Sumik’o’s 2nd stop by at Taeyong’s workplace, Taeyong and you will Sumik’o end up in the lady flat, and you can she completely opens up to help you him regarding the girl earlier in the day lifetime along with her reasons for relocating to Seoul. Afterward, she decided to go to school, however, she failed to call it quits the lady demand for socialism. When the lady dad tried to marry their from having a big dowry, she escaped house again and later turned into looking Korea and you may made a decision to relocate to Seoul to follow a new lifestyle.
That novella try authored on the post-KAPF arrest period, the phrase “socialism” was previously censored since “XX” and you will next substituted for “opium,” a complicated choice of Ch’ae’s when Sumik’o says to the girl tale. She says, “The anybody known XX given that opium, correct?” (Elizabeth 46). XX is sometimes found in place of censored conditions, but publishers plus willingly used it alternatively for words that will be individuals for censorship. thirty five Of the substitution “socialism” which have “opium,” the words snacks the previous just like the an addicting point. At the same time, they claims a certain ambiguity in regards to the idea of socialism. Like, next report by Sumik’o creates an unclear definition: “In the long run, I became another opium addict. But are bookish, I was including an enthusiastic opium fan exactly who did not need opium” (E62). Sumik’o’s need for socialism and her college degree classify her given that an effective socalled new woman, and that Taeyong finds out recognized. These characteristics is the real characteristics of your the newest woman for the Korea during the time. 36
The lady show out-of domesticity inside her apartment-for example, and make tea and you can toast or removing this lady male visitor’s layer-functions as an indication off the woman early in the day lifetime which have a great socialist 
kid and of her awareness of bourgeois details from close love and courtship that be a consequence of her center-category relatives background
Sumik’o’s socialist early in the day is the reason Taeyong’s value for her, but the woman ideological enterprise is even the source of the separated. She passes through a successful change regarding good socialist to good Japanese purple loyalist about novella. Taeyong, in addition, stays when you look at the Seoul in the place of this lady and you may will continue to limit his life to his minimal requirements. This lady socialist previous becomes an enthusiastic imperialist investment whenever she movements so you’re able to Seoul right after which then to your Chinese region-Manchuria. The lady proceed to Seoul scratches her “conversion” (K. chonhyang, J. tenko) out-of socialism along with her merger on Japanese expansion project. After the storyline, Sumik’o actually leaves to possess Manchukuo herself, in place of recognizing her amazing want to go back to Tokyo-a strategy she originally plus ideal so you’re able to Taeyong. The very last step away from Sumik’o’s profitable “conversion” contrasts with the “non-conversion” from Taeyong, whom she results in. 37
Meanwhile, Taeyong’s standing due to the fact an effective colonized subject shines when he uses day which have Sumik’o. Such, they converse when you look at the Japanese, not Korean. The new conflict between socialism and imperialism and contributes to Taeyong’s sense. The guy demonstrates that he had been an enthusiastic “opium nut” (we.elizabeth. socialist) previously however, doesn’t stick to the addiction any more. Neither really does he support imperialist ideology. He demonstrates to you you to their unsupportive thoughts towards the japan Kingdom made your end writing books. But mysteriously, during the a long monologue one criticizes the condition of modern neighborhood, he indicates that he totally supports the japanese “samurai soul” (which is, the prices of your own Japanese army), he says is dependent on organization “principle” (E87). Which detail has actually often become realize because a proof to have Ch’ae Mansik’s collaborationist characteristics. Although not, in the facts, the japanese samurai spirit try exhibited as one of the factors why Taeyong usually do not produce novels any longer. The japanese “principle” was a respectable idea but also something the guy you should never fully master, to make him call it quits the written text off novels [Prevent Webpage 271] entirely away from value for it. Taeyong plus condemns other contemporary publishers to possess composing mediocre works best for currency alone. The guy insinuates that these works are collaborationist weblog. Ch’ae, due to the fact journalist, would be defending themselves to have writing that it extremely portion to have economic explanations, a relationship facts you to aids colonial ideologies.