Morning Glories Plucked at Dusk - (Expert and Master Interpretation Edition)

Author: Lu Xun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: The Flowers Are Plucked at Dusk recounts the author's childhood life and the journey of studying in youth, recalling unforgettable people and events, expressing nostalgia for former friends, relatives, and teachers. The work critiques and satirizes the reactionary and conservative forces through a mix of narration and commentary. The essay Dog·Cat·Rat was inspired by an attack on "gentlemen of high moral character," satirizing the "rumors" they spread and expressing hatred for the cat's tendency to "torment the weak," "yowl everywhere," and sometimes "put on a flirtatious air." It recalls the experience and feelings of rescuing a lovely hidden mouse in childhood, which was later destroyed, showing sympathy for the weak and hatred for the cruel. A Long and (Mountain and Sea Classics) recounts the author's childhood interactions with his nanny, Long Mama, describing her kind, simple, yet superstitious and talkative personality, as well as her earnest effort to buy and gift the illustrated Mountain and Sea Classics he longed for, filled with respect and gratitude. The essay uses heartfelt language to express sincere remembrance of this working-class woman. The Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars discusses children's reading materials of the time, recalling the author's childhood experience of reading The Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars and exposing the hypocrisy and cruelty of feudal filial piety. The work focuses on analyzing stories like "Sleeping on Ice to Catch Carp," "Old Amusing His Parents," and "Guo Ju Burying His Son," condemning such feudal filial piety as disregarding children's lives, treating "shamelessness as humor," and distorting ethics, thereby misleading both the past and future. The work delivers a sharp critique of the trend at the time that opposed vernacular literature and promoted retrogression. The Five Demon Festivals recounts the author's childhood excitement and anticipation of watching the temple fair, contrasted with his disappointment and pain when forced by his father to recite The Mirror of Historical Records. It highlights how feudal education suppresses and damages the natural inclinations of children. The Ghost of Justice describes the "Ghost of Justice" seen in rural temple fairs and on the stage, explaining why this "ghost-like human, rational yet emotional" figure is beloved by the people—it is because there is no justice in the human world, and evil people do not receive their just punishment, while "true justice lies in the underworld." The essay uses a mix of narration and commentary to satirically mock the "gentlemen of high moral character" who claim to uphold "justice" and "reason." From the Hermit's Garden to the Three Flavor Study describes the author's childhood joys in the garden and the tedious life of studying at the Three Flavor Study, revealing the sharp contradiction between the broad interests of children and the restrictive feudal education that stifles their natural inclinations. It expresses the reasonable demand for children to grow up healthy and lively. Father's Illness recalls the author's childhood efforts to seek medical treatment for his father, describing the behavior, attitudes, and prescriptions of several "doctors," exposing their lack of distinction between medicine and sorcery, their pretense of knowledge, extortion, and indifference to human life.