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,…). 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 Im’s personality at 90%. Deok Im couldn’t 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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