Auzy’s Reviews > The Vegetarian > Status Update

IH reflects on family trauma and collapse of her marriage while watching YH waste away in the hospital. Staff attempt to force a feeding tube into YH, causing her to violently vomit blood.

The book ends in an ambulance with IH riding alongside her sister, questioning human violence and staring fiercely at the vibrant trees outside.

IH says that maybe it's a dream & she dreams too, but we all have to wake up...

IH recalls a memory that she's unable to share - 2 years ago, when her ex made the video with YH, IH was on her period for about a month. She eventually brought herself to see a gynae & found that it was a minor issue. She also struggled with her existence, finding her life meaningless & she's never truly lived. She didn't want to go on.

YH says she doesn't need food anymore because she's turning into a tree. IH tries to ask whether she wants to die & suddenly went down the rabbit hole of could she have done better for her sister? Protecting her from their father especially.

IH recalls her ex-husband (the one obsessed with YH's Mongolian Mark), who tried to jump out the balcony. He called months ago, wanting to see their son, Ji-Woo ❌

In-hye encounters the patient caretaker Hee-joo after speaking with the doctor. Hee-joo warns In-hye that Yeong-hye has been vomiting blood and urgently needs help, highlighting the severity of her condition. When In-hye finally speaks with Yeong-hye, her sister insists she only needs water and sunlight because she is transforming into a tree.

Part 3 - Flaming Trees

In-hye was otw to the psychiatric hospital, it was raining, and on the bus en route, she looked out the window. She wondered where her sister had been found.

A few months earlier, YH had gone missing during the hour patients were allowed to take unaccompanied walks. A staff had scoured the nearby mountains, and one nurse was able to find Yeong-hye in an isolated spot deep in the woods.

He went over to YH's, they fucked, he recorded.

She asked if the dreams would stop, said she wasn't scared anymore.

He awoke, looking for the camcorder, found his wife, In-hye. She said she was coming over to see YH, found the door open & the camcorder. Worried it was a random man, she checked the film & realised it was her husband. She said he was taking advantage of her & called for them to be institutionalised.

He urged J, his colleague, to join in the art. Hesitantly, he agreed, but when asked to have sex with YH, he said no, and left. YH said she was wet, and he went over, she said "No", rejected him and said it was the flowers for her.

He called up his ex, P, and got her to paint him. She replicated his style. She was turned on from painting his body and kissed him even though they're both married.

He went over to YH's

He went to the sauna, and envisioned YH there, but they were like plants and they were having sex.

He called up YH, & she hadn't removed the flowers on her body as it apparently stopped the dreams from coming. She also said to repaint it on her if it comes off. He asked if she could keep it a while longer.

J, his colleague, intends to be the male stripped with YH.

After dropping off YH, he picked up his son, Ji-woo, and tucked him into bed. Suddenly, he decided to head to the studio but was guilt-stricken after informing his wife.

He spent the entire night editing the video. Then, he came up with another idea - his art creations having sex. It couldn't be him having sex with YH, and how would YH react? He needed authenticity = actual penetration.

He finished painting the back, then painted the front. Afterwards, he recorded the areas of her body that was painted. He said it may come off after thorough washing and YH doesn't want it to come off.

They ate at a place with Buddhist cuisine. The erotic imagery of YH played, but now, the desire has worn off. He asked why she doesn't eat meat & she replied saying he wouldn't understand. She dreamt of a face.