The Way Philosophy of History is Represented in Fiction and Film—Focusing on Irony and Ethics on Others in the Novel Namhansanseong and the Adapted Film The Fortress

A comparative analysis of Kim Hoon's historical novel Namhansanseong (2007) and its film adaptation The Fortress (2017, directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk) reveals divergent ideological implications in their representation of history. While the novel employs irony to critique language, history, and societal structures, often reinforcing patriarchal and feudal ideologies, the film subverts this through revolutionary ethics centered on empathy for others. The study highlights how the film's narrative shifts from a paternalistic perspective—depicting the king as a father figure—to one that challenges authority, emphasizing individual agency and social justice. This transition is achieved by removing the novel's linguistic ironies and instead using cinematic techniques to humanize marginalized characters, such as low-ranking officials, and mitigate misogynistic undertones. The film's ending, where commoners live peacefully without rulers, symbolizes a modern reinterpretation of historical trauma, contrasting sharply with the novel's original intent.

Lee, C.-w. (2021). The Way Philosophy of History is Represented in Fiction and Film—Focusing on Irony and Ethics on Others in the Novel Namhansanseong and the Adapted Film The Fortress. The Journal of Modern Literary Theory, 87, 307–341. https://doi.org/10.22273/smlt.87.12