Camel Xiangzi - (Expert Teacher Interpretation Version)

Author: Lao She
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: The Camel Xiangzi is a tragic work. The author does not deliberately seek humor but rather depicts the true face of life. All the characters in the story are on a downward path, from Xiangzi, Huxiu, Xiaofu, Erqiangzi, the old man and his granddaughter, to the once powerful Liu Siye, all heading towards despair and dimness. The tragedies of these characters form the great tragedy of the entire society. Another feature of this book is its rich atmosphere of the ancient capital and the streets. Lao She's works set in Beijing all share this characteristic, with The Camel Xiangzi particularly focusing on the life scenes of lower-class laborers, especially the world of rickshaw pullers and the life in the crowded courtyard. This Beijing flavor, with its distinctive dialect and cultural nuances, adds an irreplaceable artistic charm to the book. This book is part of the New Curriculum Standard·Famous Works Reading Series titled The Camel Xiangzi. Lao She depicts a tragedy with a compassionate touch: in Beijing of the 1920s, a hardworking, sturdy small figure from the lower class, filled with dreams of wealth and struggle, is ultimately swallowed by the dark storm. It reveals the slave mentality of the "little people" at the time and the ultimate collapse of their hopes. With the suicide of Xiangzi's beloved Xiaofu, the last spark of his personal struggle is extinguished. This is the typical fate of the impoverished citizens of old Beijing in China. The Camel Xiangzi extensively uses Beijing colloquialisms and dialects, along with descriptions of the customs and culture of old Beijing, making it feel and easy to read. It is a classic work of modern vernacular Chinese fiction.