The Vegetarian by Han Kang

The Vegetarian by Han Kang is a 2016 novel set in modern-day South Korea that won the Man Booker International Prize. It tells the story of a woman in her thirties, Yeong-hye, who decides to become vegetarian in a society obsessed with meat. In her attempt to distance herself from her conservative family and the materialism of her culture, she finds herself in a desperate struggle against them and her own inner demons.

The novel is divided into three parts, each told from the perspective of a different person in Yeong-hye’s life: her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister. The novel begins with the section told by Yeong-hye’s husband, Mr. Cheong. He is a mundane, average office worker who discovers one morning that his wife has become a vegetarian, much to his displeasure. In his section of the novel, he grapples with the shift in their marriage and how it affects his daily life.

The second section is told from the perspective of In-hye, Yeong-hye’s sister. In-hye is married to Yeong-hye’s brother-in-law and in her section, we get to see how Yeong-hye’s vegetarianism affects her family life. This section also gives us a glimpse into her own troubled history, as she was once hospitalized after having a psychotic breakdown. In-hye wrestles with her own inner demons as well as her brother’s growing involvement with Yeong-hye.

The last section of the novel is told from the viewpoint of Yeong-hye’s brother-in-law, an aspiring artist. He is drawn to Yeong-hye’s vegetarianism and the story of her transformation. He begins to explore his own growing obsession with her, and his art begins to take on strange, dark themes. This section of the novel dives deeper into the philosophy of Yeong-hye’s newfound vegetarianism, as she her becomes increasingly detached from the world she once knew.

The Vegetarian is a mesmerizing novel that paints a vivid portrait of the inner lives of its characters and shows how our lives can be shaped and changed by our own decisions. The characters struggle with their definition of “normal” and the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. It’s a powerful exploration of the idea of individual freedom and the power of choice. Along the way, we get glimpses of the beauty and tragedy of life, as each character is grappling with their own personal demons and their effect on their lives. The Vegetarian is a mesmerizing novel that will leave you thinking long after you’ve read the last page.