Jinu was a starving artist.
I believe Jinu has always been talented.
I’ve seen lots of different interpretations of Jinu’s voice/musical ability. The general consensus seems to be that Jinu was gifted his voice and talent (or at least better voice and talent) by Gwi-Ma when he accepted the deal.
But if we take a deeper dive into what was actually said in the movie, it paints an interesting picture:
“I let you keep that voice, Jinu. And you dare to mock me with it?”
Keep. That’s the keyword here. If the creators wanted to make it clear that Jinu was gifted his voice in exchange for his soul, wouldn’t it have been much easier to convey that by having Gwi-Ma say “I gave you that voice” instead? I think that was an interesting choice of words.
Of course, it raises a few questions. Does Gwi-Ma have the ability to strip Jinu of his voice? Has he threatened to do so before to keep Jinu in line? I would venture to say yes, especially considering the physical/bodily control Gwi-Ma is shown to be able to assert over his demons.
“Overnight my fate was changed. I was praised for my voice, even by the King himself.”
This quote especially strikes me as indicative of what’s really going on with Jinu. He never once says that his voice got better. He says that he was finally praised for his voice.
If we think about Jinu’s circumstances, the time he is from and the Joseon caste system, raising above his lowborn status would’ve been out of the question. Even with his remarkable musical talent. The chance of being “discovered” was near impossible, since cheonmin often lived separately from the upper class.
I believe that what Gwi-Ma gave Jinu was opportunity. He opened up the door for Jinu to be discovered by someone of high standing. Someone who could get him into the palace. Someone who could finally give him the recognition he’d longed for. All while simultaneously leading Jinu down the path to abandon his family and drown in shame.
I believe that’s why Jinu was so good at being an idol. He loved it. Putting aside his main goal, it seems like every aspect of idol life was fulfilling to him. He seemed excited to pitch the idea to Gwi-Ma. He must’ve worked on it for years. He looked genuinely thrilled to win awards for his music. It wasn’t just a mission to him. He was passionate about it.
It’s almost like he wanted to prove to himself that, if he had been born into better and more fair circumstances, he could’ve turned his talent into something lucrative. It’s almost like he wanted to prove to himself that if it weren’t for his social standing, he could’ve provided for his family doing something he loved.
Jinu did not only starve in body during his human life. He also starved to be recognized for his natural talent. He was born into unfortunate circumstances that never allowed for that talent to thrive.
In my opinion, Jinu as a starving artist serves his story better, and is more conducive to demonstrating his motives throughout the movie. It adds layers to the tragedy and depth of his choices.
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