Bin 9/17

Of all the stories, The Lonesome Bodybuilder is my favorite.
It is a powerful and thought-provoking work. Through an unusual narrative, it precisely captures the anxiety, loneliness, and longing commonly felt by modern individuals caught between intimate relationships, social norms, and self-realization. It tells us that the path to finding oneself may be lonely and even misunderstood, but only by courageously showing one’s true self is it possible to be truly seen and connected.

The exploration of marital relationships and identity is the core theme of the story. The protagonist gradually feels neglected in her marriage—her individuality and needs drowned out by her husband’s indifference and her own compromises. Bodybuilding, for her, is not merely a physical change but an awakening of resistance and self-discovery. By shaping a strong, visible body, she confronts her “invisibility” in the marriage, attempting to make her husband (and herself) see a different, authentic version of who she is.

The bodybuilder is lonely. Her husband cannot understand her inner world, and the broader society (the shop assistants, customers, children in the neighborhood) also fails to comprehend her choices. Embracing strength is lonely, and bearing the consequences of that strength is equally lonely (as seen in the guilt she feels during the Yorkshire Terrier incident).

The ending of the story moved me deeply—it is full of hope. The husband is forced to step out of his own world and to re-recognize his partner. He finally sees her. This is a love born of awakening, grounded in reality. It contains shock and confusion, but ultimately chooses embrace over rejection. It is the beginning of equality: in the past marital dynamic, the husband was psychologically dominant, while the wife was appeasing and invisible. Now, the wife stands before him in an undeniable, powerful physical and psychological form. The description of them finally walking hand in hand symbolizes the formation of a new, more balanced dynamic. He accepts her beast-like arms; she accepts his artist’s hands.

What resonates with me personally in this story is this: throughout my own growth, I too have faced many choices of “whether to ride the roller coaster or not.” Some of these choices brought me joy, while others brought pain. But this story gives me the strength to “fling any roller coaster with my bare hands.”