The Good Cook

¶ … Cook" shows the interaction of an individual with a system, a totalitarian society and the other participants to the two. The author, Barbara Demick, through a truly reflective essay, as well as one that enumerates and narrates in a news-like manner, tells the story of Song Hee-Suk, a regular individual living in North Korea and the way she relates to her own self, to the others around her, to the system and to the figures that make up the system (namely, Kim Il-sung, founder of the Communist regime in the country). With all these pieces of the puzzle, Demick aims to create an overwhelming picture of life in the North Korean society.

In terms of the relationship of the character with herself, there is not much information in the essay as to what her most inner thoughts are. This is mainly because the character is defined through her relationship with others rather than the reflective relations with the self. The reader finds out a few physical characteristics (even those are, in fact, contrary to reality: her plump face does not mean that she is also well-fed) and, above all, a pride to be part of the North Korean society, one of the underlying themes of Demick's work. Despite all the hardships, Song Hee-Suk remains a strong supporter of the regime and of its leaders.

The character becomes much better defined in her presence in society. The dedication with which she does her jobs, as a mother, as a worker in society and as a member of the party show her will to contribute to supporting the Communist Party's propaganda of making North Korea the greatest country on Earth. There are several clear elements pointing in that direction, most notably her long work hours, her constant participation to the ideology classes, raising four children (which, as in many other Communist countries, was also tied to the future success of the Party and country in the world) etc.

Above all in her life is her adoration for the North Korean leader, Kim Il-Sung. As in all authoritarian societies, adoration for the supreme leader goes hand in hand with accepting the propaganda that the central authorities promote. These two elements also lead to the elimination of self, something that was discussed in one of the previous paragraphs.

Overall, apparently, the character is one of the many in North Korea who don't really ask themselves whether the Party and leaders could be at fault for the dramatic situation in which the country eventually is. Her statements once in South Korea are tremendously evocative of the ignorance and lack of acceptance in terms of the pure facts. She says that "it never occurred to me that the government was at fault." This clear statement shows the effects of propaganda on the individuals of a society that impregnated the idea that leadership figures are never at fault.