In this sense, the novel portrays an extreme version of vegetarianism, one that has little to do with culinary associations with the term. Yeong-hye becomes vegetarian in the pursuit of a state of purity and innocence that she feels is almost incompatible with her being human. This is precisely where the central idea of the book lies. It entails becoming one with the natural world, not as a human participating in nature, but as a plant-like creature: she slowly stops eating, and even speaking. Being a vegetarian means to her not just eschewing meat. However, what starts off as a change in her eating habits soon turns out to be the sign of a change she wants to make to her status as a human being. The protagonist, Yeong-hye, decides to become a vegetarian, following several violent, blood-dripping dreams. Translated into English by Deborah Smith, and winner of the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, The Vegetarian is a book centred around a re-definition of the word ‘vegetarian’. Although becoming a vegetarian might not seem the most remarkable decision to make, it gains new meaning and importance in this novel. These are the opening words of South Korean writer Han Kang’s The Vegetarian. “Before my wife turned vegetarian, I’d always thought of her as completely unremarkable in every way.”
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