Camel Xiangzi? Black and White Li (Selected Works of Modern Writers)

Author: Lao She
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book selects some representative works of the "People's Writer" Lao She. Among them, Rickshaw Boy tells the tragic story of a rickshaw puller named Xiangzi in the old Beijing of China. Xiangzi comes from the countryside, where the increasingly declining and impoverished rural areas make it impossible for him to survive. He comes to the city, hoping to build a new life through his honest labor. He tries various jobs and finally chooses to pull rickshaws. This career choice shows that although Xiangzi has left the land, his way of thinking is still that of a farmer. He is accustomed to individual labor and at the same time longs for a reliable vehicle like the land. Owning a car and becoming an independent laborer—"this is his ambition, hope, and even his religion." The city seems to give Xiangzi the opportunity to fulfill his ambition. After three years of hard work, he manages to buy a car, but less than half a year later, it is stolen by others. However, Xiangzi still refuses to give up his dream of owning a car of his own. Although he doubts his pursuit and is several times, he still keeps getting back up and struggles again. It can be said that Xiangzi's stubborn character and relentless attitude in fighting against life form the main plot of the novel. The outcome of the struggle, however, ends with Xiangzi's failure—he ultimately fails to realize his dream of owning a car. The realism of this novel lies in the fact that it not only depicts the material deprivation caused by the harsh living environment on Xiangzi but also portrays his spiritual decline after his life's dreams are shattered. "He lost his heart; his heart was taken away by others." Thus, a hardworking and kind rural youth is reshaped into a jobless, zombie-like vagrant.