A Study on the Behavior of an Old Man in Park Kyong-ni’s Novel Toji: Focusing on Gong’s Hermes Characteristics

This study focused on the analysis of the elderly, which has not been conducted in the study of the characters of the novel Toji, which features hundreds of people. In particular, Gong, who appears as an elderly person from the beginning, plays an important role; therefore, this study analyzes the meaning of his behavioral charac teristics. Gong's actions show characteristics similar to those of Hermes in Greek mythol ogy rather than just fragmented results. He is a skilled negotiator who runs a guest house business in Gando, a border area, and returns the protagonist’s land, taken by a pro-Japanese character, while crossing the border in disguise. In addition, he supports the independence movement with cool-headedness and becomes a caring helper for those who visit him to perform their roles. He sometimes serves as a messenger of good news or reconciliation. Nevertheless, he is trusted and respected for not asking for payment or satisfying individual desires. In conclusion, the novel Toji highlights the person who matures as they grow older, and embodies the elderly as a guardian who helps or protects humans in dif ficult situations.This differentiates it from many modern creations that depict only the elderly negatively.