Eco-feminism in Han Kang’s The Vegetarian: A Critical Analysis of Bodily Autonomy, Ecological Resistance, and Gendered Violence

Abstract

This study critically examines Han Kang’s The Vegetarian through the lens of ecofeminism, exploring the intersection of bodily autonomy, ecological resistance, and gendered violence. While the novel has been extensively analyzed in terms of personal identity, societal norms, and individual autonomy, its ecofeminist dimensions remain underexplored. Ecofeminism provides a compelling framework for understanding how gender, ecology, and power structures are intertwined, particularly in the context of women’s bodies and the natural world. This research addresses the gap in the literature by focusing on the protagonist Yeong-hye’s rejection of meat consumption and her subsequent physical and psychological transformations as an ecofeminist critique of patriarchal control over women and nature. Through a close reading of the text, this study investigates how Han Kang uses symbolism related to nature, the body, and transformation to challenge environmental exploitation and gendered violence. Drawing on key ecofeminist theorists like Val Plumwood and Karen Warren, the paper analyzes how Yeong-hye’s choices serve as an act of resistance against societal expectations and ecological degradation. The research highlights the novel’s ecological subtext and its portrayal of women’s bodies in relation to environmentalism. The Vegetarian offers a nuanced exploration of ecofeminist concerns, using the protagonist’s struggle to shed light on the interconnection between the oppression of women and the natural world. This study contributes to the growing body of ecofeminist literary criticism and provides new insights into the novel’s ecological themes.