What does meat symbolize in the novel, The Vegetarian?

Like blood, meat is a symbol of life force - specifically, the life force of animals. Perhaps more so than blood, the thought of consuming the meat of animals whose lives have been sacrificed for human consumption is the trigger for Yeong-hye's transformation into vegetarianism. The fact that other characters have no problem at all consuming meat, and in some cases either force her or manipulate her into consuming meat or its by-products suggests a casualness towards meat and its origins that might itself be similarly triggering.