The first time I started reading My Beloved Oppressor, I did not honestly know what to expect. The title in itself was a press and I sensed tension in the air and I was wondering how the writer would manage to juggle these issues without losing one on being so oppressive or the other so unrealistic. Surprisingly, this webtoon does something daring. It drags the readers into a bad relation where there is pain, control, vulnerability and gradually and steadily the blossoming of affection between two individuals, who are not supposed to be together in the first place.
The tale makes you go on an adventure that is not easy at all. Surviving and being strong as well as how love can flourish in the most unexpected place is at its very core. This is not one of those romances that you grab when you need something that is easily light-hearted. It requests long tolerance, consideration and when you are willing to accommodate both characters to grasp their plight. It is precisely the reason why it impressed me so much.
The Story and Setting
The central action revolves around the life of a young woman who becomes trapped in a case where she has to serve a strong man that has control over her life. He is authoritative, bossy and his presence commands to be obeyed. Since the start, the webtoon clarifies the point that it is not an idyl fairy tale romance. Rather, it is a conflict of domination and defiance, as the heroine is making every effort not to lose her dignity when co-existences with a person and seems convinced ready to bend her will.
The setting of the world of this webtoon is not too complex, yet it is grounded. The fiction concentrates not so much on creating a huge universe as the emotional conflict between characters in the story. The environment is usually dense with panels spurting in stress and quietness. Minor themes contribute to the atmosphere like how the characters do not look straight ahead or how the sides of the face are concealed with shadows. Not only are you reading dialogues, but you are picking up the unspoken words concealed in every word-not-said and every peep.
The effectiveness of the setting is that it reflects the moods of the characters. This background stifles when the heroine feels like she is stuck down. As greetings of gentleness occur, then all of a sudden the hue of the colors are eased, perhaps similar to hope sneaking to stay in a closed room. This pictorial narration aids the reading experience to become stronger.
Characters
My Beloved oppressor is composed of characters. The heroine is a single woman who will not shred effortlessly. A different kind of internal fortitude runs through her despite her helpless status and she starts to apparently glow. She does not appear perfect and that is what sets her in the context of the relatable. And she has instances of fear and doubt, and some resultant resentment, but beneath it all she is pressing in, so as to preserve her sense of self. I felt like watching her go running with bare feet to sharp rocks, but never lose track of her course.
Colorblind on the other hand is a male lead who may appear to be immobile and cold at first. I disliked him at first honestly. His stature was brash and I made little sense of how the heroine would even be in the same space as him. But as the tale progressed there were crushed spots developing in his armor. The webtoon brings out facets of his history, his trouble and the causes of his cruel conduct. He is not by any means justified in his actions, yet he is illuminated. That is the difference.
This further complicated nature ensured he was one of the most irritating and, at the same time, interesting characters I have ever encountered in romance webtoons. He is not that usual cute hero. He is imperfect, he is at times frustrating, yet he also changes. The deeper he is involved with the heroine, the more he starts to lose control over her to hesitant care and later to love. It is a pure burn change that never seems to hurry and the eventual tenderness between them becomes even more impactful.
Themes of Power and Vulnerability
The theme of power in My Beloved Oppressor is one of the most impressive ones. Imbalance as a theme in relationships is touched upon in many romance stories, but rarely to such an extent as customers in this one. Power here is more than who exercises authority. It is engaged in who can be in command of his feelings, who can raise his hand to be helpless, who can raising his hand to forgive.
Initially, all power is in the head of the male protagonist. He orders, he tells and he commands. But with the course of the story the heroine starts attaining invisible force. She wins his attention, his indecisiveness and finally even his heart. It is interesting to observe the way reliability is shared, which is not explicitly done, but takes place through the exchanges of feelings.
This is dynamic that is uncomfortable sometimes to read, but it is the thing. Love does not necessarily grow under favourable circumstances. It is at times emitted as darkness where the boundaries of trust and resilience are suppressed. The webtoon challenges readers to consider the true entitlement of love with someone more powerful than the other one. Can it still be genuine? Is it able to provide healing to wounds rather than to cause them? I found this one of the most provoking chapters of the whole story.
Visual Art.
Even the artwork is worth according praises. It is subtle but expressive, employing all the panels to build diversity to the story. Faces of characters may express more than the lines of the speech. A glance at a face, a half grin or an imagined hand can change all the tone of a picture. The art knows where to be harsh and where to quiet down and move the emotions of the reader in a unimposed way.
It is effective especially with regard to color. The previous chapters are full of darker colors, which are representative of the suffocating environment. As the relationship develops, warmer colors begin to emerge, virtually like a door is being opened to a closed chamber. Such progressive change in visuals is reminiscent of the gradual process of healing amongst the parties to the story that not only gets told, but also gets experienced.
My Personal Experience
Not always was it easy to read My Beloved oppressor. It has chapters where I had to stop because I did not feel comfortable with the unbalancing of the leads. There was a moment that I would even consider discarding it, but curiosity held me. I was curious about discovering whether the story would vindicate its premise of whether the story would help it grow, rather than deifying pain.
I am glad I stayed. The payoff on the emotional level became evident by the middle chapters. The strength of the heroine and the reformation of the male lead had started giving weight. Such a relationship appeared valid despite their eccentric relationship. I was on their side because they were trying to find out each other the most painful manner possible, and not because they were good.
It also prompted me to think of how cumbersome real relationships may be. Any love does not start with ideal harmony. At other times it starts with confusion and mayhem, even hurt. The main thing is whether the individuals involved are able to change, develop and select one another in good faith. It is what this webtoon ends up depicting.
Final Thoughts
My Beloved Oppressor is neither a universal nor a universal story. This would not be a choice when you want to enjoy a light funny romance with light souls. But in case you feel like something un amen, heavy and garnished along with multiple feelings, then it is well worth the time. It demonstrates the ability to develop love in two sometimes unexpected situations between people that are separated by suffering and influence.
Personally, this webtoon is remarkable in that it is not afraid of putting the readers into an uncomfortable situation and yet loads them with hope. It will not mock us, telling us that love is not perfection, but transformation. Even when two fractured individuals are ready to oppose their personal imperfections, they can get something genuine.
I would suggest it to those readers that love reading stories that defy the fundamental formula of romance. It is only necessary to be prepared to have moments of strains and emotional conflicts. You may be amazed by how sympathize with these characters by the end, in spite of the bumpy path that led to their union.