Unveiling the Madwoman: The Role of Mental Illness in Critiquing Gender Expectations and Cultural Norms in The Vegetarian and Kim Jiyoung, born in 1982

Abstract

This thesis dives into the portrayal of mental illness and gender oppression in two renowned Korean novels, The Vegetarian and Kim Jiyoung: Born 1982. The text explores the role of mental illness in the narratives as a mean to explore women’s condition in Korean society and its connection to societal expectations. The first chapter analyzes the impact of traditional gender roles and patriarchal norms on the characters' struggles for individual identity. In the second chapter, the focus shifts to the theme of madness, showing how psychiatry often fails to diagnose women's mental illnesses rooted in societal factors rather than physical ones. It also examines the community's reactions to mental illness diagnosis and the repercussions of being labeled as such. Ultimately, the thesis concludes by highlight the fact that Korea’s modernization has not taken place within the conservative societal beliefs and norms, as evidence by the enduring struggles depicted in the novels.