In #TheRedSleeve, San was asked twice if he ever considered to be commoner: at the very beginning and at the very end of the drama #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
In the ep2 of #TheRedSleeve, San is asked by one of his teacher if he ever considered to be a commoner. San replies: « Neverβ¦I shall never hide or run away from my my destinyΒ Β» #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
In the ep16 of #TheRedSleeve Deok Im asks San if he has ever imagine them both as commoners. If Deok Im imagined many times what it would be, San could never consider this hypothesis, adding that being a court lady maid suited to her. #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
At the end of the ep17 of #TheRedSleeve Deok Im will ask San to come back among the livings ones so he can pursue his duty as a king. But San refuses: he voluntarily choose to die so he can be with her. Finally, San gives up his throne for Deok Imβs love. #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
Itβs normal for Deok Im to dream them as commoners, bc they have never been so happy when she was a court lady and him the crown prince teacher. Their relationship wasnβt power based: she could send him for a ride π§and tell him some truths #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
After the revelation of Sanβs true identity, his relationship with Deok Im will be marked by asymmetry: as her person, she must obey. If not, San resorts to threat, violence and physical abuse (choke, attempted r*pe, blackmailβ¦). So romantic! #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
But, according to history, would San and Deok Im would have been happy together as commoners ? Letβs find out. #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
Before, letβs make a brief historical recap. Goryeo (918-1392) was a matrilineal society where women could freely mingle, have their own possessions and inherit. When women got married, their husband were moving in their family in law house. #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
During Goryeo, Korean women had a lot of freedom. As they were held accountable for the collapse of Goryeo due to their immorality, Joseon (1392-1910) deprived freedom from women to set up a patriarcal and mysoginist society according to neo-confucianism values #TheRedSleeve
This neoconfucianism model has spread till nowadays. Thatβs why Korea is amoung the worst countries for gender equality. Just watch the movie Kim Ji Youn born in 1982 with #GongYoo (or read the book) to understand the issues of the country (& the stakes of presidential elections)
Deok Im dreamt San and she would be commoners, so there wouldnβt have been other women. But concubinage was a widespread custom in Joseon society. Being commoners (sangmin) was not a guarantee she would be Sanβs wife without other concubines #TheRedSleeve #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
Contrary to royal consorts, the children (and all their descendants) of the concubines were socially and legally discriminated . A man born from a concubine (seoja) couldnβt inherit from his father or pass the civil state exam. #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
Which was paradoxical since Yeongjo, the king was the descendant of a concubine (Yeongbin). But the royal family was not concerned by the discrimination towards concubinesβ children #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
One of the most beautiful scenes of #TheRedSleeve are those where San and Deok Im read the book of odes. But as a commoner, Deok Im would have been illiterate. Most women were including in the noble families didnβt know how to read #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
In the late 19th century 4% of the Korean women knew how to read. Lady Hyegyeong (sanβs mother) learnt to read hangul thanks to an aunt in law. Besides, women were forbidden to learn hanja, which was required to form a petition to the king #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
Both the women and the slaves were purposely exclude from any social or political role in the society, as they had to obey #TheRedSleeve #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
As a court lady maid, Deok Im was highly educated, which was not the norm for the women. Remember Sanβs surprise when they met as adults in the library to see her transcribe books. She could also earn wages for her work. #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
As a commoner, Deok Im wouldnβt have been allow to work outside the household, because only 4 types of women could legally work: court lady maid, nurse, shaman and female entertainers (courtesan). #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
As commoners (sangmin), San and Deok Im would have been, like 80% of the population in Joseon, farmers. They would rent their lands to a noble family. Besides, they were heavily taxed and men had to serve an army and work for free (corvee) #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
Deok Im would have been reduced to the household and the farm works (gardening, weaving cotton,β¦). But she still would have more freedom than a yangban (noble) woman who was strictly confined in her household #TheRedSleeve #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
In Joseon, a family member could ask a man to divorce if his wife committed 1 of the 7 sins. Among them: sickness, jealousy, disobeying to the parent in law, not having a male heir or adultery. With her bad health, DI could have been concerned #TheRedSleeve #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
As bearing a child (and more precisely a son) was an important task to any women of that times (and a motive for divorce), commoners and lowborn classes used to expose their breasts after giving birth as a sign of pride #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
Would San and Deok Im been happier as commoners ? Probably not. But it was important for the drama to underline the inner conflict of Deok Im as a royal consort, which finally led her to get sick and finally d*ie. #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
More than the power dynamic underneath their relationship as a king and court lady, it was the era that was an obstacle to their love relationship. Deok Im, as free spirit and an educated woman, was a modern woman in many ways. #TheRedSleeve #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
No wonder #LeeSeYoung said she shares Deok Imβs personality at 90%. Deok Im couldnβt stand the obligations of a royal consort locked into the palace because she was too unconventional. Her aspirations were those of 21th century: self esteem & independence #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo
Deok Im would have been reduced to the household and the farm works (gardening, weaving cotton,β¦). But she still would have more freedom than a yangban (noble) woman who was strictly confined in her household #TheRedSleeve #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
In Joseon, a family member could ask a man to divorce if his wife committed 1 of the 7 sins. Among them: sickness, jealousy, disobeying to the parent in law, not having a male heir or adultery. With her bad health, DI could have been concerned #TheRedSleeve #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
As bearing a child (and more precisely a son) was an important task to any women of that times (and a motive for divorce), commoners and lowborn classes used to expose their breasts after giving birth as a sign of pride #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
Would San and Deok Im been happier as commoners ? Probably not. But it was important for the drama to underline the inner conflict of Deok Im as a royal consort, which finally led her to get sick and finally d*ie. #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo #LeeSeYoung
More than the power dynamic underneath their relationship as a king and court lady, it was the era that was an obstacle to their love relationship. Deok Im, as free spirit and an educated woman, was a modern woman in many ways. #TheRedSleeve #LeeSeYoung #LeeJunHo
No wonder #LeeSeYoung said she shares Deok Imβs personality at 90%. Deok Im couldnβt stand the obligations of a royal consort locked into the palace because she was too unconventional. Her aspirations were those of 21th century: self esteem & independence #TheRedSleeve #LeeJunHo
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