Mo Yan's Best: Joy

Author: Mo Yan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: A young man named Yongle, born into a poor rural family in Gaomi County, like countless other rural children, hoped to escape poverty and backwardness through the college entrance examination. However, after five attempts at the exam, he failed each time. His hopes turned into bubbles, and his efforts became futile. He felt frustrated, oppressed, painful, and helpless. The earnest concern of his elderly mother, the helplessness of his brother under the weight of life, the contempt of his sister-in-law and others—hopelessness in the future—everything pressed down on him. With no other choice, he ran away from home, embarking on an irreversible "happy" path. A thousand words cannot express what Mo Yan has written! Mo Yan calls himself "Mo" (meaning "no") Yan, yet his pen spills countless words. Regardless of the subject, his flowing, rich, and intricate style is his trademark. This may be a game of self-mockery or self-affirmation for a novelist. Because of these countless words, he has also attracted countless critical voices from literary critics. Discussions about Mo Yan range from feminism to national discourse, and in recent years, they have indeed led to many conferences and theses. But amidst the clamor in academia, Mo Yan seems to respond to none of it with silence. Any claims about the novelist's final aspirations in his works must be grounded in this self-awareness.