As early as a few years ago, I searched the "abandoned capital" without looking closely. This time, I read the postscript first and learned about the writing background. After the author finished writing, I felt * * * at a loss. The author wrote, "Is this one better or worse than my previous works? Did you accomplish a destiny, or was it a trick of God? Everything is at a loss, as if I am not as good as before, not as good as I am after my death. " I became interested in The Waste Capital and its ending, so I watched it carefully.
I finally finished reading it today. I feel that The Wasted Capital is Jia Pingwa's masterpiece, which is much better than the short stories I have read. No wonder A Dream of Red Mansions, known as the modern version, also won the Femina Prize for Literature, one of the three most authoritative and prestigious literary awards in France. Here is a brief introduction to the plot of The Wasted Capital and its comparison with A Dream of Red Mansions.
First, the plot introduction of "The Waste Capital"
The Waste Capital begins with a description of strange images. Zhuang Zhidie and Meng took grave soil from Yang Guifei's tomb to raise exotic flowers and plants, and were later accidentally drowned by hot water. Then four suns and seven rainbows appeared in the sky, and then four famous people in Xijing were introduced: painter Wang Ximian, calligrapher Gong Jingyuan, musician Ruan and writer Zhuang Zhidie. These literati are very talented and well managed. Zhou Min eloped with Tang Waner from Tongguan to Xijing, contacted the editorial department of Xijing through the butterfly of Zhuang, and then wrote an article about the butterfly of Zhuang and the shadow of Xue Jing, which caused a written lawsuit against Xue Jing. Zhuang Zhidie fell in love after meeting Tang Waner in Zhou Min. The lawsuit of Zhuang butterfly, the love between Zhuang butterfly and Tang Waner, Zhuang butterfly and cattle are all clues throughout the article. The work Butterfly of Zhuang also has ups and downs of love entanglements with Wang Ximian's wives, such as A Can and Liu Yue, whom he can't carry clearly and can't get rid of. After the carnival, A Can left Zhuang Zhidie; Liu Yue was the nanny of Zhuang Zhidie's family, and later married the disabled son of the mayor. The beginning is also interspersed with the love affair between Meng and Master Huiming of Qingxu Temple. Finally, Tang Waner was taken away by Tongguan's husband's family and suffered humiliation. Zhou Min's rescue failed. Zhuang Zhidie didn't intend to go to court, and finally lost. She decided to give up her pen and died of opium.
Second, "The Waste Capital" and "A Dream of Red Mansions"
Some critics say that "The Waste Capital" is a copy of "A Dream of Red Mansions", which tells the history of the rise and fall of four big families. As far as literary achievements are concerned, The Wasted Capital is not as good as A Dream of Red Mansions, although it is fluent in writing and vivid in characters, but it is also so in social sense. I think there are similarities between The Waste Capital and A Dream of Red Mansions. Their similarities mainly include the following points:
(1) The description of Zhuang Zhidie's love with many lovers, mainly Tang Waner, is somewhat similar to that of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu in A Dream of Red Mansions, but Zhuang Zhidie is married, and there are many naturalistic sexual descriptions in the book, which is different from that in A Dream of Red Mansions. The book describes the complicated relationship between the sexes, but it still highlights the love affair between Zhuang Zhidie and Tang Waner, which is somewhat similar to A Dream of Red Mansions.
(2) The whole article of "The Wasted Capital" describes all kinds of behind-the-scenes transactions between literati and those in power. Scholars are actually a pawn of the authorities. Zhuang Zhidie tried to write many articles for the mayor and used his own relationship to help him get re-elected. When he finally gave up his pen, the mayor just said it was a pity, which showed that they were just using each other. In fact, the success of The Waste Capital lies in this point. It describes all kinds of relationship transactions in today's society, which makes people feel very natural to read without any traces of affectation. At this point, A Dream of Red Mansions and The Wasted Capital are very similar, but the contents are slightly different due to different dynasties.
(3) The rise and fall history of the four families. The ending of Das Kapital is that Zhuang Zhidie lost the case; Gong Jingyuan was angry; Ruan was robbed, injured and her eyes changed; Wang Ximian is in trouble again. In this respect, The Waste Capital and A Dream of Red Mansions are similar.
④ The characters of Wang Xifeng and Niu Yueqing. Niu Yueqing is the wife of Zhuang Zhidie. At first glance, they seem completely different, but both of them are stubborn, provocative, smart and decisive. From Niu Yueqing's invitation to Zhuang Zhidie and Tang Waner to eat pigeons, we can see that she is smart and provocative. Their endings are somewhat similar.
⑤ Poetry. There are far fewer poems in The Wasted Capital than in A Dream of Red Mansions. Most of them are poems written by poor old men and Zhuang Zhidie. Some of them criticize the current disadvantages, others are approachable, and they are much less bookish than A Dream of Red Mansions.