The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to South Korean author Han Kang for her poignant and provocative works that confront historical traumas and expose the fragility of human life.
Han Kang’s writing style, described as intense poetic prose, masterfully explores the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead. Her innovative approach has cemented her position as a leading figure in contemporary literature.
According to a statement by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, Sweden, Han Kang’s work is characterised by a double exposure of pain, juxtaposing mental and physical torment with Eastern philosophical undertones.
Her narrative voice is distinct, often employing silence and subtlety to convey the complexities of human experience.
In her notable work, “The Vegetarian,” Han Kang explores themes of individualism, social conformity, and the human psyche’s capacity to transcend physical constraints.
The novel follows Yeong-hye’s transformation and her family’s struggles to understand her motivations.
Han Kang’s other works, such as “Greek Lessons” (2023), demonstrate her physical empathy for extreme life stories, reinforced by her increasingly charged metaphorical style.
This captivating portrayal of an extraordinary relationship between two vulnerable individuals meditates on loss, intimacy, and language.
The Swedish Academy praised Han Kang’s ability to give voice to victims of history, particularly in her novel based on the 1980 Gwangju massacre.
“In seeking to give voice to the victims of history, the book confronts this episode with brutal actualisation and, in so doing, approaches the genre of witness literature,” the Swedish Academy said.
Her style deviates from traditional witness literature, permitting the souls of the dead to witness their own annihilation.
Han Kang’s innovative prose has earned her recognition as a visionary author, pushing the boundaries of contemporary literature.