SETTING FORBIDDEN GAME CONFLICT FREE

It would be misleading, therefore, if we read “Cranes” as a unification fairytale. Indeed, at the end of “Cranes,” humanity prevails over ideology. If and when we become captive of some dogmatic ideology, however, we end up losing so many precious things in life: innocence, friendship, dignity, love and affection ― that is, all of the things we call humanity. We often tend to be intoxicated with political ideologies and firmly believe we are absolutely right, while all others are wrong. Rather, it is a story about the triumph of humanity over ideology. Nevertheless, a close reading of “Cranes” will reveal that it is not a story of nave optimism for unification. Perhaps the conscientious novelist secretly wished for reconciliation between the North and the South so that chronic ideological warfare and dictatorship could come to an end. Hwang indeed wrote the story in the early 1960s when Koreans were suffering under the anti-Communist, rightwing military dictatorship which oppressed the people under the name of guarding against North Korea. It may be true that Hwang’s story harbors the plausibility and hope for reconciliation between North and South Korea. Tokchae realizes the true intention of Songsam and runs for freedom.Ĭritics have criticized “Cranes” for its nave optimism for unification, arguing that unification is much more complex than such sentimentalism.

So they act out the “forbidden game,” which has no place in ideological warfare. Songsam makes a friendly gesture by offering Tokjae a cigarette, and eventually their hostility and resentment dissipate.Īt the end of the story, Songsam unties Tokchae and invites him to play the children’s game of freeing cranes once again.

SETTING FORBIDDEN GAME CONFLICT FREE

During their journey, however, Songsam gradually realizes that it is only ideological warfare that separates his bosom friend from him, and that Tokchae is in fact no Communist.Ĭhildhood memories of setting a crane free evokes in Songsam a strong nostalgia for those innocent days when no ideological dispute existed between them. Songsam, who has returned as one of the security corps officers, volunteers to serve as an escort.Īt first, Songsam harbors hostility towards Tokchae as he detests Communists.

When the Communist troops have retreated to the North, Tokchae is arrested by the civilian right-wing security corps and is escorted to the police station in Chongdan to be executed.

Setting forbidden game conflict