Camel Xiangzi (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Lao She
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: In Lao She's works, Xiangzi, a rural villager, comes from the backdrop of a broken and declining Chinese countryside, embodying the simplicity and stubbornness of a farmer. Once he sets his mind on the profession of a rickshaw puller, he becomes a "rickshaw enthusiast," determined to buy his own vehicle. Through hard work and perseverance, he saves and endures for three years, finally realizing his dream and becoming a self-reliant, top-tier rickshaw puller. However, the chaotic social environment of warlord-dominated China at the time leaves no room for his personal fantasies. Within half a year, he is abducted by deserters in the midst of turmoil, losing his rickshaw and only retrieving three camels. Unbroken, Xiangzi stubbornly starts over, working even harder to save money. Yet, before he can buy another rickshaw, all his savings are extorted and looted by detectives, making his dream of owning a vehicle a futile illusion once again. When he finally gets his rickshaw again, it is at the cost of entering into a deformed marriage with Huxiu. But this happiness does not last long; Huxiu dies in childbirth, leaving Xiangzi with nothing but his rickshaw. Life mocks him, and he begins to indulge in hedonism—drinking, gambling, and exploiting others for money. Xiangzi completely descends into the refuse of the city, becoming a soulless, hollow shell. Through this character, Lao She portrays the oppressive weight of an unreasonable social system on the lives of lower-class workers. Another vivid character in the work is Huxiu. Her vivid portrayal of life and her pitiful yet contemptible fate leave a profound impression. Lao She blends traditional Chinese narrative techniques with the scenic descriptions and psychological portrayals of foreign literature, making Xiangzi and Huxiu into household names, familiar to all.