An Analysis of Subjectivity in The Vegetarian Under Foucault’s Power Theory

Yingxi Liu

doi:10.54691/rghvz312

Authors

Yingxi Liu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/rghvz312

Keywords:

The Vegetarian, Foucault, Power and Discourse, Subjectivity.

Abstract

The Vegetarian is an excellent novel of the South Korean female writer Han Kang, which wins the Man Booker International Prize of 2016. The novel profoundly explores the depth of humanity and the predicaments and struggling of individuals in modern society. Foucault’s power theory well elaborates the connection between power, knowledge and discourse as well as how individuals are disciplined by complex power relations to lose their subjectivity in society. This paper will base on Foucault’s power theory and focus on the analysis of subjectivity of three important characters in The Vegetarian: Yeong-hye, In-hye and In-hye’s husband, trying to explain how they are disciplined by the rational and patriarchal discourse to be obedient and how they bravely resist to liberate their subjectivity.

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References

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