by Hanjae
This
scene with Choi Young standing at his life's crossroads is the climax
of his personal journey, the culmination of all the trials and decisions
that had brought him to this point. I had previously cited two factors
that were vital in Young's eventual success in overcoming his shaking
hand and shaken resolve. After further consideration, I would like to
clarify these two points with the addition of a third factor that I had
neglected to mention: Young's renewed conviction to continue as a
warrior in the service of the king.
Eun Soo's Influence and Gongmin's Support
Over
the course of the drama, we had observed the way Eun Soo's enjoyment of
life initially perplexed Young, but gradually motivated him to change
his own bleak outlook on life. It is perhaps Eun Soo's plea for him to
value his life in Episode 12, combined by her determination to live and
be happy even in the face of near-certain death, that had the greatest
impact on Young. Eun Soo's courage was a source of inspiration for Young
and the first crucial motivating factor in conquering the challenge to
his resolve.
The
second factor was Gongmin's support and understanding, which alleviated
Young's burden. As a warrior and general he would always carry the
burden of many lives on his shoulders - of having to kill in order to
protect - but the brunt of his struggle arose from being unable to
protect those who needed him, torn between the differing interests of
love and duty. A major turning point came in Episode 22, when Gongmin
realized the heavy weight he had placed upon Young by forcing the latter
alone to shed blood to achieve the justification he wanted, while
simultaneously rendering Young helpless to protect Eun Soo by forbidding
him to wreak vengeance upon those who posed danger to her. It is ironic
that Young saved the lives of many people with his "last stand," but
was unable to protect the one person he cared about above all. As
Gongmin acknowledged to Noguk later, Eun Soo wasn't just a woman to
Young, but his entire reason for existence; only after meeting Eun Soo
did life return to Young's eyes. Gongmin, in order to be a truly good
king, must therefore protect what is important to his valued friend and
subject rather than forcing him to make an impossible choice. It was
only when Gongmin finally understood this weight upon Young's shoulders
and offered support rather than tests of loyalty that Young was able to
balance the best interests of both. I find it fitting that the two
parties at the root of Young's struggle, Eun Soo and Gongmin, also
provided him with the tools with which he found his solution.
Conviction
The
third crucial factor is Young's renewed conviction in his duty as a
general and leader of the Wudalchi. Regaining the strength to pick up
his sword again was merely the first step; without renewed purpose and
belief in what he was doing, it would nevertheless have been an uphill
struggle to break free of the indifference that had marked his previous
seven years of service. Part of Young's struggle was rooted in his lack
of conviction; he had carried out Gongmin's orders because that was his
duty and not because he believed in those decisions. The importance of
this factor is perfectly illustrated by Eun Soo's joie de vivre - she
does not only "survive" but is able to live life fully because she
believes that her life has purpose.
"Don't you want to be king?"
Although
Ki Chul's question was designed to challenge Young and drive a wedge
between him and Gongmin, it was in the answer to this question that lay
the key to Young's reawakening. While this appeared to be a transparent
offer of temptation on the surface, what lurked at the heart of Ki
Chul's question was an attack on Young's faith in his king and on
Gongmin's faith in Young.
Earlier in the drama, Young had replied
to the scholars that Gongmin is the first king he had chosen because of
the potential that he saw in him, and this was rewarded as Gongmin
transformed into a strong king who desired the best for his people. What
ultimately enabled Young to finally answer the question that his master
could only answer with his life, however, was Gongmin's faith in him
and unconditional support. This, in turn, enabled Young to reward
Gongmin's faith with his own trust and absolute loyalty. The very fact
that Gongmin had refused to flee but chose to stand behind Young in
support against Ki Chul was proof that this s a king who cared not only
about the nation but individuals like Young himself; whatever challenges
politics might pose, Gongmin is a king who would not just "toss [Young]
into the boiling water" or treat him as a "hound." The king may not
always make the correct decisions and Young may become frustrated as he
had before, but their goals remain aligned - Gongmin seeking to protect
Goryeo, while Young carries out and protects these ideals. As with so
many obstacles in this drama, it is through faith that Young gains
renewed conviction that his existence is not merely that of a
easily-discarded tool, but one with meaning. He "already had a king."
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