From Intellectuals to Opportunists: Redefining the Satirical Archetype of the "Chameleon" in the Works of Ch’ae Mansik

Perhaps one of the most remarkable characteristics of the work of Ch'ae Mansik is his capacity for satire within a deeply traumatic historical context. Although he is known as a satirist, academic studies have approached his categorization from different perspectives. Given the significance of satire in identifying Ch'ae's legacy, this article aims to provide a classification of his works in which satire plays a crucial role. In addition, through literary analysis, it proposes a theory concerning the archetypal character often found in his satirical novels. The article focuses on works that depict the "chameleon"–an opportunist archetype willing to do anything and disregard ethical considerations in order to attain material wealth and social acceptance. Furthermore, it explores the contrasting ways in which this archetype differs from the satirical portrayals of intellectuals found in some of his works from the 1930s. In so doing, this study seeks to elucidate how a focus on the chameleon archetype can contribute to a better understanding of literary legacy of Ch'ae Mansik.