The thesis analyzes the novel The Vegetarian by South Korean author Han Kang through the lens of the social structure of contemporary South Korea, where patriarchal patterns persist and continue to hinder women's equality with men. This condition is strongly influenced by Neo- Confucian ideology, which remains deeply rooted in Korean tradition and thought. The first part of the thesis, which focuses on the sociological background, presents the social status of Korean women from the Silla Dynasty to the Joseon Dynasty, when Neo-Confucianism became institutionalized and reinforced women’s subordinate position. This is followed by an overview of the development of women's literature, which has historically served both as a means of expressing individuality and as a form of resistance to the existing social order. The final part is dedicated to an analysis of the novel, focusing on the protagonist and her decision to become vegetarian as a symbolic act of defiance against a patriarchal society. The analysis is divided into four thematic sections: vegetarianism as a symbol of resistance, sexual objectification, the protagonist as a "new woman," and the theme of metamorphosis. Through literary analysis and a socio-historical framework, the thesis shows how The Vegetarian serves as a tool for insight into modern Korean society and as a vehicle for expressing women's voices and resistance.
|
