Summary
The Vegetarian, a haunting and provocative novel by South Korean author Han Kang, took the literary world by storm when it was published in English translation in 2015. Originally released in South Korea in 2007, the book tells the story of Yeong-hye, a seemingly ordinary woman whose decision to stop eating meat sends shock waves through her family and society. With its exploration of violence, desire, and bodily autonomy, the novel grapples with profound questions about human nature and the limits of free will.
Han Kang's spare yet lyrical prose style, masterfully rendered in English by translator Deborah Smith, earned widespread critical acclaim. In 2016, The Vegetarian was awarded the prestigious Man Booker International Prize, catapulting the novel to international bestseller status. The book has since been translated into over 30 languages, cementing Han's reputation as one of the most important voices in contemporary world literature.
The Vegetarian was made into an independent South Korean film in 2009 directed by Lim Woo-seong. The novel's challenging themes and surreal imagery have made it a subject of ongoing literary analysis and discussion, with readers and critics alike grappling with its ambiguous ending and rich symbolism. Han Kang's unflinching examination of violence and metamorphosis in The Vegetarian continues to resonate with audiences around the world.
Plot
Yeong-hye and her husband live an ordinary life in Seoul until Yeong-hye begins having violent nightmares. Disturbed by these dreams, she decides to become a vegetarian, throwing away all the meat in the house. This decision causes conflict with her husband and family, who cannot understand her choice. At a family dinner, Yeong-hye's father attempts to force-feed her meat, leading to a disturbing confrontation where she harms herself.
In the second part of the novel, Yeong-hye's brother-in-law, an artist, becomes obsessed with her. He convinces Yeong-hye to participate in an erotic art project where he paints flowers on her naked body. This leads to a sexual encounter between them, which is discovered by his wife (Yeong-hye's sister). The brother-in-law's actions result in both him and Yeong-hye being hospitalized for mental health issues.
The final section focuses on Yeong-hye's sister, In-hye, who is struggling to cope with her sister's deteriorating condition and her own failing marriage. Yeong-hye is now in a psychiatric hospital, refusing to eat and believing she can survive by photosynthesis like a plant. In-hye visits her regularly, trying desperately to get her to eat. During one visit, In-hye witnesses the forceful treatment of her sister and intervenes, resulting in both of them being transferred to a different hospital.
Throughout the novel, Yeong-hye's desire to become plant-like grows stronger, symbolizing her rejection of human violence and her search for a purer form of existence. The story explores themes of societal pressure, personal choice, and the blurred lines between sanity and madness. It ends with uncertainty about Yeong-hye's fate and hints at the possibility that In-hye might be developing similar thoughts about escaping humanity.
Themes
Bodily autonomy and control
Violence and trauma
Mental illness and social stigma
Gender roles and patriarchal oppression
Human connection and alienation
Identity and transformation
Nature versus civilization
Setting
The Vegetarian is set in contemporary South Korea, primarily in the bustling metropolis of Seoul. While the exact timeframe is not explicitly stated, the novel takes place in the early 21st century, reflecting modern urban life and societal norms in South Korea.
Much of the story unfolds in domestic settings - apartments, homes, and family gatherings - providing an intimate look at Korean family dynamics and social expectations. As Yeong-hye's condition deteriorates, the setting shifts to include medical facilities, particularly the psychiatric hospital at Mount Ch'ukseong where she is eventually admitted.
Han Kang also incorporates natural settings as a contrast to the confining urban and institutional environments. Forests and trees take on symbolic significance, especially in the final section “Flaming Trees,” as Yeong-hye increasingly identifies with plant life. This juxtaposition of cityscapes and nature reflects the protagonist's struggle between conforming to society's demands and following her own unconventional path.
Characters
Yeong-hye: The protagonist of the novel. A seemingly ordinary housewife who decides to become a vegetarian after having disturbing dreams. Her decision leads to increasingly erratic behavior as she tries to shed her humanity and become plant-like. Yeong-hye's mental state deteriorates throughout the novel as she refuses to eat and is institutionalized.
Mr. Cheong: Yeong-hye's husband. A conventional, unimaginative man who chose to marry Yeong-hye because he saw her as unremarkable. He is frustrated and bewildered by her transformation and eventually leaves her.
In-hye: Yeong-hye's older sister. She remains devoted to Yeong-hye even as her sister's condition worsens, visiting her in the hospital and trying to get her to eat. In-hye struggles with her own mental health issues as she cares for Yeong-hye.
Yeong-hye's brother-in-law: In-hye's husband and an video artist. He becomes obsessed with Yeong-hye and uses her as a subject for an erotic art film where he paints flowers on her naked body. His actions lead to the dissolution of his marriage.
Yeong-hye's father: A stern, abusive man who tries to force-feed Yeong-hye meat during a family intervention. His violent actions cause Yeong-hye to hurt herself.
Yeong-ho: Yeong-hye's brother. He assists his father in trying to force-feed Yeong-hye meat.
Ji-woo: In-hye's young son, who she must care for while also tending to Yeong-hye.
The male artist: A friend of Yeong-hye's brother-in-law who is recruited to participate in the erotic film but refuses.
Quick facts
The novel originated from Han Kang's 1997 short story “The Fruit of My Woman,” which also featured a woman turning into a plant.
Han Kang wrote the entire novella longhand due to joint problems she experienced in her mid-30s.
The book was first published in South Korea in 2007, but didn't gain international attention until its English translation in 2015.
Translator Deborah Smith learned Korean specifically to translate Korean literature and The Vegetarian was one of her first major translation projects.
The English translation won the Man Booker International Prize in 2016, making it the first Korean novel to win the award.
The Vegetarian has been translated into at least 32 different languages as of 2024.
The novel is divided into three distinct parts, each narrated from a different character's perspective.
Despite its title, the book only briefly touches on the philosophy of vegetarianism itself.
Han Kang received help from a video artist and a psychiatric hospital while researching for the book.
In 2009, the novel was adapted into a South Korean arthouse film of the same name, directed by Lim Woo-Seong.
About the Author
Han Kang, born in 1970 in Gwangju, South Korea, is an acclaimed author who has garnered international recognition for her poignant and introspective works. Hailing from a family of writers, Han's literary journey began in the early 1990s with the publication of her poems and short stories. Her breakthrough came with the novel The Vegetarian, which won the prestigious International Booker Prize in 2016, marking the first time a Korean-language novel received this honor.
Han's writing often delves into themes of trauma, human fragility, and historical events that have shaped Korean society. The Gwangju Uprising of 1980, which she learned about as a child, has had a profound influence on her worldview and literary output. Her other notable works include Human Acts, The White Book, and We Do Not Part, each exploring different facets of the human experience with Han's characteristic intensity and poetic prose.
Throughout her career, Han has received numerous accolades for her contributions to literature. In addition to the International Booker Prize, she has been awarded the Yi Sang Literary Award, the Manhae Literary Award, and the Prix Médicis étranger. Her crowning achievement came in 2024 when she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first Korean writer and the first female Asian writer to receive this prestigious honor.
Han has also been involved in academia, teaching creative writing at the Seoul Institute of the Arts from 2007 to 2018. She has participated in international writing programs and contributed to literary projects such as the Future Library. Han's works have been translated into multiple languages, allowing her unique voice and perspective to reach a global audience and solidifying her position as one of the most important contemporary writers of our time.
