Dream of the Red Chamber (Volume 1 and 2) (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Cao Xueqin (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: The Dream of the Red Chamber is one of the most profound works in Chinese fiction that reflects the era. It demonstrates an unparalleled depth of thought and philosophical pursuit that no other work possesses. Through depicting the decline of the Jia family in politics, moral corruption, economic collapse, and the successive decline of its offspring, the novel foreshadows the inevitable downfall of the old system. The Dream of the Red Chamber presents a broad social reality, concentrating on the various contradictions of the time. The most prominent contradiction is between the progressive forces represented by Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu and the feudal forces represented by figures like Jia Mu and Jia Zheng. What sets The Dream of the Red Chamber apart from previous works is its treatment of people as human beings, especially women, reflecting the emerging proto-democratic ideas of the time. However, the feudal parents, driven by self-interest and wielding their power, suppress rebels mercilessly, even at the cost of taking lives. This intense conflict is most vividly portrayed in the love and marriage struggles of Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, and Xue Baochai.