Subjectivity of Women\'s Body as a Resistance to the Domination of Patriarchy in Novel Vegetarian by Han Kang

Abstract

Women's body cannot be separated from the bind of objectivism and social construction discourse. A novel 'Vegetarian by Han Kang', shows the discourse of woman's body through "madness" behaviour of the female main character. This research aims to disclose the meaning of that "madness", depicted in the novel and her strategy to resist from the patriarchal domination. Through the application of postmodern feminism approach by Luce Irigaray, the finding of this research regarding the resistance from the female main character is explained in two points. First is by the suicide attempts, showing her authority over her own body. Second is, by her decision to be a vegetarian that indicated her attempt to get emancipated from any kind of violence, as well as to break the 'to dominate-be dominated' relations. Based on the results of this research, the conclusion is the "madness" behaviour of the female main character in this novel can be interpreted as her attempt to get subjectivity of woman's body, that she can be the absolute "owner" of her body and to liberate herself from any social constructions that bind it.