The Story of Hong Gildong

Dreams occur at key moments in the text as symbolic omens that foretell important events. The story begins with Minister Hong’s dream. At first, the minister’s dream is beautiful: He is on a sunny mountainside in the springtime. Birds sing, and streams ripple. He walks to the edge of a rocky cliff to look down into a waterfall; suddenly, a storm erupts and a fierce dragon rushes toward him. This dream symbolizes the roller coaster of events and emotions that Minister Hong will experience after Gildong is born. In the beginning of the dream, the minister is elated, just as he is after Chunseom gives birth to Gildong. The dragon symbolizes the danger that Gildong poses. In the dream, Minister Hong does not escape the dragon: “[H]e tried to flee from the creature but it quickly enveloped him” (2). Minister Hong passes away without resolving his conflict with Gildong, even after Gildong has become King of Annam.

In Joseon, dragons symbolized the king’s power. This foreshadows Gildong’s future status, while the dragon’s behavior within the dream represents Gildong’s unfilial path to royalty. Dragons in a dream could also symbolize good fortune—Minister Hong interprets his dream this way, which prompts him to make sexual advances toward his wife.