Holo. Illusion

Author: Mao Dun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: The changes of the times have caused a certain "displacement" in the evaluation of 20th-century writers. Amidst the clamor of "rewriting literary history," Mao Dun stands out as a unique case. He firmly retains his well-deserved status as a master of left-wing literature, despite continuous challenges questioning his major works as merely "a sophisticated form of social document," with shortcomings such as "political conceptualization" and "theme-driven writing." Even the younger scholars who question him still acknowledge that he was a writer in the ranks of new literature who never forgot to absorb the excellent heritage of both Chinese and foreign literatures and placed great emphasis on artistic experience. He played a crucial role in the formation of modern Chinese fiction, especially epic-length masterpieces. This book serves as an accessible shortcut to understanding Mao Dun. If you do not view fashion as the lifeblood of literature, you will find that Mao Dun's influence still shines brightly between the reformist and social novels of the new era. The writing motivations behind Frustration and The Rainbow were both about venting emotions. The period from the May Fourth Movement to the Northern Expedition was one Mao Dun personally experienced, with firsthand life and feelings (including confusion and, which can also serve as a catalyst for literature, depending on how they are utilized). The material was readily available, unlike when he later wrote The Midnight and had to visit the Shanghai Stock Exchange for research. Mao Dun described the inspiration for the conception of Frustration in poetic terms: "I remember one evening in August after a meeting, I was preparing to go home. It was raining outside, with no pedestrians or cars, and the raindrops were clattering loudly on the umbrella. I was walking with one of the women I had taken notice of. She had been talking too much at the meeting and still had an excited red glow on her face. As we walked along, I suddenly felt a surge of inspiration. If possible, I think I would have wanted to pick up my pen and write right then and there in the rain?" (A Few Old Words) This writing brought him a specific point: modern female characters with full, dominant roles. The static lady and the wise lady in Frustration, and Mei Xingsu in The Rainbow are examples. Later works like The Midnight shifted the focus to male protagonists, but women like Zhang Susu, Liu Yuying, Feng Meiqing, and Lin Peiyao in those stories still left a deep impression. Frustration depicts the ideological turmoil of youth before and during the Great Revolution. The Rainbow was intended to "leave a mark on China's decade of grand drama" (Postscript), originally planned to cover Mei Xingsu's struggles up to 1927, but later shortened to 1925's "May Thirtieth." Through this, Mao Dun created the model for " novels."
Excerpt from The Rainbow:
The golden light of the rising sun scattered the mist over the river like a light haze; the peaks on both banks now revealed their true green. The east wind played a gentle melody of spring. The turbid river water rushed swiftly down the narrow canyon, creating small whirlpools at intervals. Faintly, a low growl, like the roar of a giant beast, came from behind the mountain cliffs upstream. A few minutes later, this indistinct sound suddenly expanded into a bold cry, echoing between the steep cliffs on both sides. A light-green steamship moved majestically through the remaining mist, sailing down the river with ease, immediately filling the river surface with the noisy sound of the heavy-duty engine. This was the famous Longmao steamship, known for its trips on the Chuan River. It had set sail from Kuifu at dawn and was scheduled to reach Yichang by 2 or 3 in the afternoon.