The Meaning of the Title

[Bookishkrish24]

I think the title refers to disappearing Korean traditions and culture. More than that title emphasizes that Korea is in the process of losing its identity and 'Koreans' vanishing.

[RachelEmmanuel]

I think it's #1. The gradual disappearance of Korean culture and way of life under Japanese occupation.

[Swirliegirlie]

OOOO I really like your number two! I hadn't thought of that being the group represented by the title "The Vanished". I did think along the lines of 1 and 3 but ultimately I think the vanishing of Korea's culture and way of life resonates best with me.

[Annette M]

I think the titles talks about the falls heroes like King Gojong, Mr.Cho, General yoon, gain and yangwoo among others.

[Justine Ocsebio]

I also think it’s number 1. In the story, the early 1900s is a time where the Japanese influence on the Korean society is beginning to take hold and the old traditions are fading away. It is also the time where Western ideals and ways of life are being introduced so there’s that too.

[lavkathleen]

I agree it could be all three. I also think it could be that the idea of what they thought their lives would look like also vanished. I am sure Lady S could have never imagined herself trapped in a loveless marriage, only to see her son turn out the same. I am sure Embon never imagined his life would be the way it was.

I think she was aware of what marriage for her would look like. What she didn't perceive, though, was having a husband like Kim Byung Hob—whoring around, getting drunk all day, and losing so much money on gambling. Embon, on the other hand, made himself clear that he didn't want to get married yet... but his mom forced him anyway.

[lavkathleen]

I agree with your number 1 & number 2 not three because all those who sacrificed their lives were documented by fellow struggle heroes so they don't get erased in history.

I bet not everything got written, though. Some of them might have gotten destroyed, too. And then there's also the historians who spread false information. And the fact that a lot of our history are not taught properly in school and public.

[lavkathleen]

I believe the author wrote the book to remind us of the forgotten Korean Upper class (yangban). In this book's case, the elite young men in society that died for their country. Generally, however, I believe its the forgotten Korean upper class whose story has vanished from history along with its heroes

It's not just the upper class, though, but the Korean culture as a whole. Whether a person is from the upper or lower class, they each had a reason to leave their traditions behind. I believe it's not only the yangbans who made a sacrifice, although the story focuses on them.

[lavkathleen]

Your second point aptly captures what the title of the book meant to me. I took it to mean the silencing of the voice of the marginalized (especially women). I found it outstanding the only person the author gave the privilege to narrate the story from their perspective was a woman, hence giving her a voice.

I never thought of that. Giving women that small slice of justice. It's poetic. I was wondering why the author only gave the first-person perspective to Lady Sougyon—I now have another answer for it.

[lavkathleen]

I think the titles talks about the falls heroes like King Gojong, Mr.Cho, General yoon, gain and yangwoo among others.

Perhaps. Someone said that it was probably about the vanishing of the story of the yangbans—and I disagreed with it. Exactly because of this. I think other than the rich life of the aristrocats, the stories of the silent rebels and independence activists are lost somewhere, too.

[Victoria Copsey]

I believe that what is so great about the title is that it can be interpreted as all of which you described. I think that it refers to the disappearance of that which was lost to a community: lives, community and autonomy, perhaps.

[Sithmi]

I think the topic, "The Vanished" might refer to the following: the gradual disappearance of the traditional Korean way of life under Japanese occupation and dominance; and the marginalized (servants, women) whose voices cannot be heard in a society where aristocracy and men have all the influence.

[Teele]

I believe point three is applicable too, considering the ending of the book. I was shocked when Mr Koo & his group lost their lives so unexpectedly.

[Arite Seki]

I think the title relates best with 1 and 3. My first impression was that it was in reference to the heroes who fought against the Japanese whose stories won't get to be told. Often in history only the major events and characters are remembered, but often the smaller voices who contributed and fought for freedom are remembered only in memory, if even at all

[Sithmi]

For me, "The Vanished" might refer to the following:
1) the gradual disappearance of the traditional Korean way of life under Japanese occupation and dominance;