
I read Han Kang’s The Vegetarian in September 2017. When I heard that Han Kang had won the Nobel Prize in Literature, I was overjoyed and decided to share my thoughts on this remarkable work.
I had often heard the term “vegetarian” over the years. Some choose it for health reasons, others out of love for animals, forgoing meat and supplementing their energy with plant-based foods and carbohydrates. I thought the book would cover familiar territory, so I started reading it lightly, especially since it won the 2016 Man Booker International Prize. However, as I turned each page, I found myself increasingly shocked by its content.
Table of Contents
1. The Vegetarian by Han Kang: An Overview
Winning the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, The Vegetarian received international acclaim. The story revolves around Yeong-hye, who suddenly rejects meat and becomes a vegetarian. The novel unfolds through the perspectives of Yeong-hye’s husband, brother-in-law, and her sister. It explores Yeong-hye’s gradual detachment from societal norms, both mentally and physically. The story is not merely about the choice to become vegetarian but also delves into suppressed desires, violence, and a deep investigation into self-identity. With its rich symbolism and complex portrayal of human psychology, it is a profoundly unsettling book.
2. The Plot of The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Yeong-hye begins to feel disgusted by the smell of meat coming from her own body, eventually rejecting all food. Her refusal to eat meat is not just a dietary choice; it reflects her deeper aversion to her own body. To her, the smell of meat represents violence, oppression, and societal norms. Her rejection of meat becomes an unconscious act of resistance against everything that suppresses her existence.
As Yeong-hye continues to refuse food, she begins to dream of becoming like a plant, an extreme attempt to reject her physical body and all the social constructs she feels trapped by. Her gradual physical decline mirrors her attempt to completely disconnect from the world around her.

3. The Symbolism of Yeong-hye’s Actions
The most striking scene, which has stayed with me even after nine years, occurs when Yeong-hye, in the rain, strips off her clothes and stands naked, embracing the storm. This scene symbolizes her extreme desire for freedom and liberation. It portrays Yeong-hye’s rejection of the rules and limitations of human society, striving to become one with nature.
Stripping off her clothes represents shedding the symbolic bindings that confine her as a human. The rain acts as a form of purification, allowing her to be reborn. This act reflects Yeong-hye’s deep desire to exist purely as nature itself, free from the constraints of societal expectations and physical desires.
4. The End of The Vegetarian and Its Meaning
Perhaps Yeong-hye’s actions stemmed from a deep sense of guilt for the violence humans have inflicted on innocent animals. Even as she withered like a bare winter branch, she did not wish to harm others. Instead, she turned her destructive tendencies inward. Her extreme self-destructive behavior seemed to stem from a profound sense of guilt and self-loathing.
I believe that Yeong-hye’s actions reflect the guilt humanity feels for the violence inflicted upon animals in the name of being human. Her rejection of herself represents the ultimate expression of this guilt.
Yeong-hye’s extreme self-destruction struck me as both tragic and heartbreaking. She chose to inflict pain upon herself rather than others, a choice that highlights the painful consequences of unaddressed internal suffering.
5. Final Thoughts on The Vegetarian by Han Kang
I read this book in 2017, and to this day, I occasionally reflect on Yeong-hye’s intense inner turmoil and extreme choices. The Vegetarian is a powerful exploration of the relationship between human purity and destruction, a work that profoundly impacted me with its fresh and thought-provoking perspectives. Even after all these years, the emotions and thoughts this book evoked continue to linger with me.