Breaking Convention

The actions of three of the four principal characters in the novel are defined by a desire for breaking convention. Yeong-hye does it most thoroughly, initially attempting to limit her unconventional behavior to being vegetarian, but then releasing that attempt as she becomes increasingly determined to not only live on her own terms, but to die that way as well. The central character of the second section tries to break convention, but does so secretly (where Yeong-hye does it quite openly). When his attempts and intentions do become more widely known, the artist is unable to follow through; he seems to lack his sister-in-law’s depth of commitment. The central character of the third section, Yeong-hye’s sister In-hye, eventually realizes that what her sister has done / is doing is something that she is both jealous of and longs for. Her actions (she also appears...