34 pages 1 hour read

Han Kang

The Vegetarian

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2007

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Themes

The Individual Versus Society

Throughout the novel, individual desires and motivations are contrasted with the pressures of social norms. This theme is introduced early on through Mr. Cheong’s critiques of Yeong-hye, who is “unusual” (13) because she doesn’t ever wear a bra. Later, when her behavior becomes more publicly bizarre, Mr. Cheong wonders, frustrated, whether she could “even recognize the situation for what it was” (33). Yeong-hye’s vegetarianism crosses the line of what is acceptable socially and leads her down a path to take further actions deemed wrong by her peers. In-hye later reflects on this, feeling that she is “unable to forgive that magnificent irresponsibility that had enabled Yeong-hye to shuck off social constraints and leave her behind, still a prisoner” (148). In-hye finds herself trapped as a “prisoner” to social constraints while her sister has completely “shuck[ed]” off society’s expectations. 

Several other characters also show the tension of having to choose between their own wishes and what society wants. The brother-in-law frequently references what he is supposed to do, like going home to his wife and child, yet instead chooses to stay out at all hours of the night; eventually, this leads him to have sex with his sister-in-law, one of the ultimate societal taboos.