Embodied Defiance

The Vegetarian by Han Kang, translated into English by Deborah Smith, is the subject of the paper, which critiques patriarchal structures in Korean society. True to the theme of “Reimagining Society through Literature”, the story explores the protagonist, Yeong-hye, who goes against societal norms by refusing to eat meat. At first glance, it seems to be a personal dietary choice, but gradually it takes on a new definition. Yeong-hye begins to doubt the domination of Korean society over her body, identity, and self when she refuses to eat meat. Instead of directly challenging authority, she retreats, and this passive protest disturbs those around her. Her defiance of conventional roles in marriage and family breaks the expectation of obedience and compliance that women are supposed to uphold. Her silence and lack of attachment are usually regarded as irrational by others. By doing so, Yeong-hye expresses her protests through her body. In this manner, the narrative unveils obvious and threatened-by-invisibility forms of violence in social institutions and questions the established notions of what is considered normal. Smith’s translation is significant in making this text more widely known. By opening the text to the general public, one can encourage international readers to engage with its exploration of gender and power. Finally, The Vegetarian demonstrates that literature may challenge social conventions, prompt people to think morally, and introduce new possibilities of societal thought

Embodied cognition · Narrative · Obedience · Patriarchy · Silence · Asian American and Pacific Histories · Ecocriticism and Environmental Literature · Japanese History and Culture