Joyful but not forgetful of words: Classics of The Shanghai Literature for 50 Years. Theoretical Criticism

Author: Zhao Lihong, edited by Chen Sihuo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: The purpose of literature is to help people understand themselves, boost their confidence, and develop their intention to pursue truth. It struggles against vulgar habits in people, discovers their good qualities, and inspires shame, anger, and courage within them, striving to make people strong, noble, and able to inspire their lives with a beautiful and sacred spirit. Throughout history, all great literary works have indeed taken it upon themselves to praise and celebrate good people and deeds, while condemning and criticizing bad people and deeds. The struggle between good and evil, right and wrong, has become the fundamental theme of literature, and good has always triumphed over evil, while right has always overcome wrong. Even if evil prevails in a work, people's sympathy will inevitably be with good and right. As Goethe said when discussing the role of drama: "Although good people suffer misfortune, everyone loves and sympathizes with them; although bad people succeed, everyone hates and despises them." This is because, when describing these characters in their works, authors do not treat them as mere tools but as people just like themselves. They cannot but love those they believe to be good and righteous, and hate those they believe to be wicked and cruel. They laugh and cry with the good characters in their works, rejoice in their happiness and grieve in their sorrow. As for the bad characters, they are always revealed with great hatred and contempt, exposing their hypocrisy and portraying their ugliness. This book often cites Gorky's opinion when discussing the need for literature to center on human portrayal and create vivid typical images. It was precisely after reading extensively in past outstanding literary works and widely absorbing the views of past philosophers and literary masters on literature that Gorky could express the fundamental characteristics of literature in such clear and concise language.