In There a Petal Silently Falls, Choe Yun uses the evolving relationship between the girl and the man to emphasize the fluidity of power dynamics. The girl initially meets the man in a vulnerable position. Due to her unsettling aura, the man assaults her in the woods “as if trying to escape from a trap … It was an act of escape and confirmation” (6). Despite the act of violence, she still follows him home. Afterwards, he cannot seem to get rid of her. Her “silence” bothers him to the point of “triggering in him a feeling of powerlessness without cause, anger without object” (8). Thus, he feels “intensely, soaringly violent” at the sight of her and constantly abuses her. He is desperate to anchor his negative emotions onto a single external factor. On one hand, he attempts to maintain his sense of power and control through violence. On the other, she holds immense sway over his moods due to her eerie presence, exerting psychological power over him. This dynamic creates tension and a constant push and pull.
Ultimately, the girl gains the advantage within their power dynamic. Her outer presentation is as still as a lake, which reflects the psychological consequences of the man’s violence back onto himself. He eventually ceases his abuse, as it only makes him feel “more miserable … the next day.” Rather than changing her behavior, the violence “merely drained his energy” (35). He feels guilty for his actions, even apologizing to her and buying her gifts (37, 39). Consequentially, the girl maintains power over him as he anxiously attempts to comprehend her perspective.
Though unintentional on the girl’s end, as her silence is a product of her deteriorated mental state, the changes in their power dynamic reveal the potential power of stillness in confronting violence.