Meat represents human capacity for violence against which Yeong-hye is rebelling. This is most notably seen in the first section of the book, in which Yeong-hye envisions herself killing some kind of animal and eating its meat raw. These dreams become allegories for the fact that Yeong-hye wants to avoid being abused and sexually consumed by people like her father and her husband Mr. Cheong, but also the fact that she wants to avoid causing this same kind of harm. Subsequently, she decides to throw all of the meat out of the house in an effort to live a less harmful life. There are also several instances in which dead animals (like the dog and the white bird in the first section) become symbolic of Yeong-hye herself as she worries about falling victim to the same fate. Yeong-hye’s desire over the course of the novel to live more like a plant than an animal can also be understood as a desire to lead a more innocent life.
Meat Quotes in The Vegetarian
“Have you lost your mind? Why on earth are you throwing all this stuff out?”
I hurriedly stumbled my way through the plastic bags and grabbed her wrist, trying to pry the bags from her grip. Stunned to find her fiercely tugging back against me, I almost faltered for a moment, but my outrage soon gave me the strength to overpower her.
In that barn, what had I done? Pushed that red raw mass into my mouth, felt it squish against my gums, the roof of my mouth, slick with crimson blood.
“I couldn't let those things stay in the fridge. It wouldn't be right.”
How on earth could she be so self-centered? I stared at her lowered eyes, her expression of cool self-possession. The very idea that there should be this other side to her, one where she selfishly did as she pleased, was astonishing. Who would have thought she could be so unreasonable?
“What’s the problem, exactly?”
“I'm tired.”
“Well then, that means you need to eat some meat. That's why you don't have any energy anymore, right? You didn't used to be like this, after all.”
“Actually . . .”
“What?”
“. . . it's the smell.”
“The smell?”
“The meat smell. Your body smells of meat.”
By the time the twelve magnificent courses were over, my wife had eaten nothing but salad and kimchi, and a little bit of squash porridge. She hadn't even touched the sticky-rice porridge, as they had used a special recipe involving beef stock to give it a rich, luxurious taste. Gradually, the other guests learned to ignore her presence and the conversation started to flow again.
Can only trust my breasts now. I like my breasts, nothing can be killed by them. Hand, foot, tongue, gaze, all weapons from which nothing is safe. But not my breasts. With my round breasts, I’m okay. Still okay. So why do they keep on shrinking? Not even round anymore. Why? Why am I changing like this? Why are my edges all sharpening—what I am going to gouge?
Though In-hye sprang at him and held him by the waist, in the instant that the force of the slap had knocked my wife's mouth open he'd managed to jam the pork in. As soon as the strength in Yeong-ho's arms was visibly exhausted, my wife growled and spat out the meat. An animal cry of distress burst from her lips.
Meat Symbol Timeline in The Vegetarian
