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Madness and Rebellion: The Construction of Feminine Consciousness in The Vegetarian

Author(s)

Junwen Liu1,#,*, Yuyang Fei1,#, Xinrui Lyu2, You Xu1

Affiliation(s)

1School of Humanities, Jianghan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China 2School of Design, Jianghan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China #Junwen Liu and Yuyang Fei contribute equally to this work. *Corresponding Author.

Abstract

The Vegetarian is the acclaimed work of South Korean author Han Jiang, which explores the complex interplay between the body and consciousness. This paper examines the novel’s portrayal of feminine consciousness through an analysis of body writing. Through the protagonist Yinghui’s physical transformation and internal struggles, the narrative illuminates the challenges and awakenings faced by women within the confines of family, society, and self-identity. Drawing upon feminist theories, including Helene Cixous’s concept of "body writing" and Michel Foucault’s theory of power, this paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the bodily imagery, practices, and narratives in the novel. The study reveals how The Vegetarian constructs and strengthens feminine consciousness through the depiction of the body, and underscores the novel’s pivotal role in the formation and empowerment of female subjectivity.

Keywords

Han Jiang; Body Writing; The Vegetarian; Feminine Consciousness

References

[1] Yang Yi. Chinese Narratology, Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1997, p326. [2] Michel Foucault Discipline and Punnish: the Birth of the Prison. New York: Vintage Books, 1979 p25. [3] Han Jiang: The Vegetarian, Translated by Hu Jiaotong, Sichuan Literature and Art Publishing House, 2021. [4] Shen Ying. A Brief Analysis of Ethical Chaos and Ethical Choices in the Korean Novel, Art and Literature for the Masses, 2019 09. [5] Foucault. Madness and Civilization. Translated by Liu Beicheng et al. Beijing: SDX Joint Publishing Company, 2012, 98. [6] Hélène Cixous The Laugh of the Medusa. Signs,1976 1(4):875-893. [7] Shi Qi. Interpretation of the Narrative Voice in The Vegetarian, Journal of Henan University of Engineering, 2023 03. [8] Xu Ran. A Study of the Theme of Gaze in The Vegetarian, Yangtze River Novel Appreciation, 2024 08. [9] Tang Xue. Body Writing in Han Jiang's Novel Vegetarian, Journal of Hubei Industrial Polytechnic, 2022, 01. [10] He Jiarong: A Study of the Theme of Violence in Han Jiang's Novels, Hebei University, 2024.