According to an article published by the American Psychological Association, anger, disgust, and presumption of harm are often reactions to non-harmful behaviors that violate societal norms. Han Kang's The Vegetarian depicts the experience of a woman named Yeong-hye whose decision to stop eating meat elicits these same reactions in the people around her. A literary analysis of this book lends itself to a discussion on how individuals relate to one another in the present day. Internal struggles which often remain unspoken can materialize in various ways, which is illustrated by Yeong-hye's sudden desire to become vegetarian due to a frightening recurring dream. This dream is a product of the violence she encountered throughout her life and is the impetus for her compulsive desire to commit no harm herself. When Yeong-hye begins to behave differently, those closest to her become disgusted and angry that she is no longer acceptably normal and unremarkable, which initially was her greatest charm. Yeong-hye's utility is gone, and she can no longer be palatably consumed by those around her. Maintaining a useful and agreeable facade is an unspoken and universal expectation required throughout many arenas of life. This paper will explore the pressures these expectations can cause for those who are internally struggling like Yeong-hye and the desperate desire for authenticity a strict adherence to social norms can elicit in others. It will also discuss positive alternatives to fear, anger, and disgust when emotions beyond the norm are expressed.

Authors:
Hayley Blair, Fordham University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Hayley Blair is currently an English graduate student at Fordham University, and her interests include intercultural studies and drawing parallels between history and the present to illuminate our world and find solutions to contemporary issues. She is currently working on a thesis inspired by the work of Michel Foucault to determine the social functions of the fabricated 'Other' in society and present alternate methods to fulfill these functions and eliminate prejudices. She is also working to create an app that will promote creativity and community involvement through literary inspiration.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-blair-222364105/

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