A Study on Rhetoric of self-narrative in Chaekjungilrok

This paper studies the rhetoric of ‘tragic’ self-narrative in Lee, Min-hwan’s Chaekjungilrok, which narrates his experience of defeat in Simha Battle. Through his writing in Chaekjungilrok, The self-narrative writing aspect that appears in Chaekjungilrok goes beyond the characteristics of an autobiography that simply describes an individual's experiences, and shows the characteristic of weaving the narrative of the community observed by the individual with one's own private experiences. Lee, Min-hwan not only provides a realistic depiction of the war situation and peace negotiations but also employs rhetorical strategies to persuade readers of the legitimacy of defeat and survival. Lee, Min-hwan structures his narrative of the Simha Battle as a tragedy in Chaekjungilrok. This approach transcends the initial ethos of being an outsider in post-war Joseon society, portraying a discursive ethos of an ‘inescapable being’ whose free will is thwarted amidst the chaos of war. In his work Chaekjungilrok, Lee, Min-hwan vividly depicts the hardships caused by the wars he experienced and observed. He goes further to narrate the peace negotiations through a dialogue-based approach, structured around logical questions and answers. This shows the pathos arising from the power dynamics encountered as a prisoner. Lee, Min-hwan uses this discursive ethos and pathos in Chaekjungilrok to persuade his readers. By eliciting an emotional collaboration based on ‘the ethos of tragedy’ and ‘the pathos of compassion’, he recreates memories to defend his survival and employs narrative strategies to justify the peace negotiations.