"The Vegetarian" by Han Kang: Nobel Prize in Literature and Man Booker International Winner

"The Vegetarian" is a representative work by Han Kang that explores repressed desires and the transformation of both body and mind. The novel is divided into three parts, each told from a different perspective, centered around the protagonist Yeong-hye's story.

 

The narrative begins when Yeong-hye suddenly refuses to eat meat and becomes a vegetarian, setting off a series of events.

In the first part, titled "The Vegetarian", the story is told from the perspective of Yeong-hye's husband, Mr. Kim. Yeong-hye, who had been an ordinary and submissive wife, suddenly decides to stop eating meat after having a terrifying dream.

 

She not only rejects meat but all animal products, which leads to increasing conflict with her family. Her husband is unable to understand her change and grows increasingly distant from her.

 

Yeong-hye’s decision is portrayed not as a simple dietary choice but as a symbolic event revealing her repressed instincts and desires.

 

The second part, "Mongolian Mark", is told from the point of view of Yeong-hye’s brother-in-law, an artist.

 

He becomes captivated by Yeong-hye's body and decides to use her as the subject of his artistic expression.

 

He paints flowers on her body, and they engage in a forbidden relationship, driven by his artistic and sexual obsession.

 

As this unfolds, the family structure begins to disintegrate.

 

Yeong-hye, in this part, shows a growing desire to reject human norms and return to nature.

 

The third part, "Flaming Trees", is narrated from the perspective of Yeong-hye's sister, In-hye.

 

As In-hye watches her sister's mental collapse, she also feels her own life falling apart.

 

Yeong-hye believes she is gradually becoming a tree and undergoes a radical transformation in her desire to merge with nature, rejecting human society altogether.

 

Even when hospitalized, Yeong-hye refuses to renounce her beliefs.

 

As In-hye witnesses her sister's breakdown, she is forced to confront her own suppressed desires and wounds.

 

"The Vegetarian" is not merely a story about vegetarianism; it is a profound exploration of repressed human desires, bodily transformation, and the rejection of societal norms.

 

Through this work, Han Kang delves into the essence of human existence and the pursuit of freedom, while also examining the complexity of familial relationships and the inner turmoil of individuals.

 

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Regarding Han Kang's global recognition: On October 10, 2024, South Korea garnered worldwide attention when Han Kang became the first Korean writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

 

Han, also the recipient of the Man Booker International Prize, is celebrated for her exploration of historical trauma and the fragility of human life, particularly in works like "The Vegetarian," "Human Acts", and "The White Book."