The Vegetarian: A Post human Tale of Rebellion against Human Violence

Han Kang’s novella The Vegetarian is one of the most acclaimed works of the Nobel laureate. It highlights the patriarchal societal constructs that oppress women and the individuals who go against social norms. Yeong-hye, the central character of the novella, rejects meat eating, and thus rebels against the patriarchal South Korean society. Her small acts of vegetarianism, clothing choice and affirmation of her bodily autonomy cause an upheaval in her personal, familial and societal life. Yeong-hye’s abstention follows a series of horrible and violent dreams, exposing the predatory nature of the human being. She makes efforts to save her innocence through metamorphosis by transforming herself into a tree and ensuring her survival in sunlight through photosynthesis. Yeong-hye groans as an animal and envisions herself transforming into a tree, to claim freedom and break the shackles of societal norms. Yeong-hye, her unnamed brother-in-law, and her sister, In-hye, all find themselves entrapped in society, envisioning an escape from their perpetual miserable situation by affirming their bodily and ideological freedom.