Selected Prose of Su Xueling

Author: Su Xuelin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: Su Xuelin's prose creations can be broadly categorized into three types: family-themed prose, landscape prose, and philosophical prose. It must be admitted that certain ideas expressed by Su Xuelin in her prose, such as her vilification of the Communist Party and her attacks on Lu Xun, are ones we cannot agree with. However, her profound loyalty to the Chinese nation, her insightful perspectives on certain issues, and her unique artistic style have also allowed us to gain much inspiration and enlightenment. Things are often complex, and one must avoid oversimplifying issues. A Taiwanese reader once said her work Green Sky "is filled with warmth of human affection and the fragrance of humanity." The emotions expressed in Su Xuelin's early prose are primarily love between the sexes and maternal love. Such feelings belong to the deepest bonds of family, far beyond ordinary relationships. On the dedication page of Green Sky, the author writes: "To Jianzhong—our wedding." On the dedication page of Thorns and Heart, she writes: "With my blood and tears, I have engraved this book in my bones, with eternal sorrow, in memory of the mother I love most." Reading Green Sky and Thorns and Heart, you will discover that the author's passion and maternal love are intertwined. As she expresses her deep love for her loved ones, she also reveals a soul burdened by traditional constraints in pursuit of personal liberation. Su Xuelin's marriage was arranged by her family. Before the wedding, there was no love between the couple, though there were letters exchanged. Due to differences in their aspirations and personalities, her thoughts were filled with conflict and pain. Su Xuelin longed for ideal love, but because she deeply loved her mother, she could not bear to hurt her in matters of marriage. Ultimately, she sacrificed her own desires to comply with her mother's wishes. The Story of the Little Silver-Winged Butterfly personifies insects, symbolizing her own love story.