Selected Essays of Lu Xun

Author: Lu Xun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: This is an anthology of Lu Xun's essays compiled for extracurricular reading by middle school students. Lu Xun himself had both positive and critical views on literary anthologies. On one hand, he acknowledged their strengths, noting that "they are often more popular and effective than the complete works of the selected authors or the compilers' own collections." On the other hand, he believed that anthologies were filtered through the compiler's lens, "narrowing the perspective of the selected works," and that compilers "sometimes add criticism, highlighting what they agree with while suppressing what they disagree with." Therefore, to fully understand Lu Xun, it is better to read his complete works rather than rely on anthologies. The articles selected in this book are as comprehensive as possible in reflecting Lu Xun's styles during different periods and his perspectives on various issues. In terms of the arrangement of the articles, we have primarily organized them chronologically and marked the years, partly to give readers a sense of the timeline for better comprehension of the texts, and partly because the chronological arrangement of anthologies has its advantages, allowing readers to trace the trajectory of the author's thoughts and artistic development. Lu Xun's essays are rich in allusions, and there are many aspects in both language and writing techniques worth careful reflection. Lu Xun himself once said that his articles are not easily understood by those lacking experience, and moreover, his writing was constrained by harsh environments, making it difficult for him to express his ideas directly. Instead, he often used various metaphors and the method of using the past to critique the present.