Representation of Masculinity in Han Kang's The Vegetarian

Abstract

This thesis explores how The Vegetarian by Han Kang represents and critiques hegemonic masculinity in contemporary Korean society. While the novel is frequently interpreted through feminist, ecofeminist, or psychological lenses, this study shifts the focus toward the male characters Yeong-hye’s husband, father, and brother-in-law and examines how their identities are shaped, performed, and destabilized in response to Yeong-hye’s silent rebellion. The Vegetarian exposes the fragility, emotional repression, and performative nature of hegemonic masculinity. When Yeong-hye resists patriarchal control, the male characters react with coercion, violence, and detachment, revealing how masculinity relies on female subordination for its survival. The study is grounded in Raewyn Connell’s theory of hegemonic masculinity, which defines masculinity as a culturally dominant and socially constructed practice that sustains male power through everyday gendered performances. Han Kang presents masculinity as unstable and harmful both to women and the men who perform it. Mr. Cheong’s desire for a passive wife, the father’s violent assertion of control, and the brother-in-law’s objectification of Yeong-hye all demonstrate different but interconnected expressions of patriarchal masculinity. Their identities collapse when Yeong-hye withdraws from expected roles, suggesting that masculinity is not natural or fixed but a vulnerable performance dependent on power dynamics. This research is significant because it fills a gap in scholarship by offering a masculinity-centered reading of The Vegetarian. It contributes to a deeper understanding of gender power structures in Korean society and shows how literature can critique dominant ideologies. Keywords: Hegemonic Masculinity, Patriarchy, Resistance, Power Dynamics