The topic section's gone mad over the rape scene. Here's my take.

The topic section has completely gone off the rails because of Chapter 21, mainly because of the rape scene. It's sad to see the squabbling that's been going on between fellow readers, and I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinions and how they feel about the story. So here's mine.

First of all, I'd like to view this from the perspective of the author. It is Byeonduck's story to tell; this is their work - not ours. The plot, the characters, the direction of the manhwa, it's all engineered by the creator to fall towards their intended conclusion once we have reached the end. We are the audience who partakes of Byeonduck's brainchild with every chapter that he/she releases. It is his/her option whether to listen to the feedback of the massive following of the manhwa and allow the audience to direct/guide the plot; OR to follow his/her own ideas and write the story as he/she sees fit - and watch from the sidelines how we react to it. Seungho, Na-Kyum, Inhun, Jihwa, and every single character in 'Painter' have their own personalities and parts to play in Byeonduck's tale, whether we agree or disagree with their actions and decisions.

From the get-go, most, if not all of us, have already surmised that Seungho and Na-Kyum are the main pair despite the cruelty and abuse that the former subjects the latter to. To a majority of us who have primarily read romantic BL and yaoi, this is a deviation on the relationship we are used to seeing between the main seme and uke. Typically, the seme loves, nurtures, and protects the uke. In this case, the seme is unfortunately one of the uke's abusers. This is how the author intended Seungho to be - a libertine who has too much money and influence, and does whatever he wants whenever he wants to - regardless of how others feel or think. He is a thoroughly terrible human being. He snuffs out his servant as if it were nothing, then selfishly takes Na-Kyum so he can paint Seungho and his partners during their sex acts - even if Na-Kyum has openly declared that he no longer wishes to do so. He even goes so far as to blackmail Na-Kyum by having Inhun in the estate. With the way he was created, it is expected that sooner or later, Seungho will go beyond the blackmail, the slaps, and the threats. And he did cross the line when he raped an intoxicated Na-Kyum.

The rape scene, I believe, was the author's way of making us think. This is Seungho taking his depravity to the next level in terms of sex. He has done it unabashedly with various willing partners, but now he finally did it to someone who didn't have the ability to resist or give consent. He still went through with it even when he was caught by the servant! This decision of his to go ahead with his plan is made to further emphasize what a malicious person he is. However, I don't think the rape was injected to normalize or romanticize the act. It is meant to show the lengths that Seungho will go to satisfy his perversions. It's meant for us to despise him. I was honestly scared and saddened for Na-Kyum during the rape scene, and I definitely wished that his first time with Seungho would have gone down differently. This is how I reacted, and how others do so is beyond my control. Some found it hot, sexy, or seductive - but I do think it wasn't the rape that generated that reaction. It's the idea that our protagonists (who both happen to be drawn as good looking people) are engaging in a sex act, and not because the uke is getting raped. Remember, rape is NEVER okay, whether the seme is attractive or not.

Another point to consider is the era the story is set. Someone had mentioned that in the Medieval or Renaissance period in our world history, criminal acts such as murder and violation of those in lower classes by people in power can go unchecked because their influence and wealth provide them the entitlement to do so. Those that complained got their rights trampled further, or worse. This was also the zeitgeist for Jeoson era Korea. The author was following a perceived 'norm' by nobles and warlords of the time when they wrote this sensitive scene and the story entirely. We cannot explicitly impose our modern day ideals on a general mindset that was adopted several centuries ago. For example, if a female servant gets abused by one of the other characters, we can only scream and thrash behind our screens at how wrong the act is, because in our day and age, women have to be treated with the same respect we render men. But the scene will remain what it is because first of all, that is how the author wrote it. Second, women's rights were practically non-existent at the time as it was primarily a patriarchal society. In the same way, low-borns like Na-Kyum had no rights. He was viewed as simply a disposable object that Seungho could do what he wanted to.

Continuing to read a story that contains abusive themes like rape does not automatically equate that the reader supports rapists/abusers. Like myself, I am simply enthralled by the beautiful artwork, the plot, and the fact that it's a historical one (I'm a sucker for history). This just happens to be a story with callous murder and rape in it. For instance, I watch documentaries on serial killers, but that doesn't mean I am their groupie who condones the evil they did. It is primarily to educate myself on their various modus operandi on gaining victims to avoid being one, and to be wary of seemingly normal people who could be leading double lives.

Also, here's my take for those who find it hard to believe that other readers would ship Na-Kyum with a scumbag madman like Seungho. As I've said, Seungho was written to be an atrocious human being. However, we are being shown glimpses by the author that he is a man not beyond saving, despite his brutality. In the beginning, we have seen nothing but his cruelty - killing, kidnapping, and taking advantage left and right. But as we go along, we see little snippets of his intrigue towards Na-Kyum affecting him differently.

1.) He withholds an even harsher punishment on Na-Kyum for the ruined painting.
2.) He 'saves' Na-Kyum from Jihwa's wrath and jealousy, and even throws out the man we see as Seungho's 'favorite' lover for stepping out of line.
3.) He tasks his manservant to care for Na-Kyum's wounds after his straw mat episode. He could have easily just left the artist to writhe in pain and recuperate on his own.
4.) He becomes an attentive and gentle lover after hearing Na-Kyum's drunken declaration of love for Inhun in the middle of their initially rough intimacy. I imagine that this is due to Seungho's deep-seated desire to be loved by someone the way Na-Kyum is devoted to Inhun.

It is my belief that Byeonduck doesn't wish for sweet, lovable Na-Kyum to be miserable throughout the story. They paired him with a man who is vile and violent, but is written to be capable of redemption. Personally, I'd like to dispel the notion that every single person who has done evil will ALWAYS be evil (although Sangwoo in Killing Stalking is cut from a different diabolical cloth). There are those beyond saving, that's a given. But there are those who, despite everything they have done, can still become a changed individual. And I think that Seungho is one such person (๑•ㅂ•)و✧

I apologize profusely if this is such a long-winded topic. But as a reader and fan of this story, it's difficult not to feel strongly for the discussions flying around about the latest chapter. Remember, everyone is entitled to their opinions. I'm entitled to mine, and those who may not agree with me are entitled to theirs as well. I just hope that we treat each other respectfully when talking about our differences regarding this work (▰˘◡˘▰)