34 pages • 1 hour read
The Vegetarian
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Translated by Deborah Smith and originally published in 2007 as three separate short stories, Han Kang’s novel The Vegetarian still functions as three distinct parts, which weave together in a powerful narrative about the manifestation of childhood trauma in adult life. The parts proceed chronologically as the characters deal with the ramifications of Kim Yeong-hye’s decision to become vegetarian.
In the opening part of the novel, Mr. Cheong articulates his frustrations with his newly vegetarian wife. A man who is distinctly “inclined toward the middle course in life” (12), Mr. Cheong finds himself angry with his wife whenever she breaches the social contract, whether at home or publicly. As she continues inconveniencing him and ignoring his wishes, he begins raping her. He feels “shut out” (25) of Yeong-hye’s dreams and decides “this strange situation had nothing to do with [him]” (26). As Mr. Cheong continues to find his wife’s behavior both alienating and disturbing, Yeong-hye descends deeper into her frightening dreams of blood and murder. At a family meal designed to intervene in Yeong-hye’s vegetarianism, Mr. Cheong watches her father slap her twice against the face. After her father forces her to put Unlock all 34 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
