This long poem with heavy narrative elements is obviously symbolic and symbolic. When you hide it and meditate, you will feel that its connotation is very rich and can trigger many associations.
First of all, we can think that this is a portrayal of the poet's life experience as a student. For this scholar studying in Tsinghua University, what do the images of the West Bank and the East Bank symbolize? What is the poet's "discovery" that is not recognized by others? It is not difficult to think that this "discovery" is Wen Yiduo's aesthetic outlook on life and art at that time. The preface of this long poem was written by Keats, the pioneer of aestheticism whom he admired. According to the modern poet Luyuan's explanation, Keats's two poems are to the effect that "he had a happy spring, and when Ming Che's taste was comfortable, he saw all the beauty." Wen Yiduo hopes to "see the beauty in Keats' mind" with Keats' "Ming Che taste". Aestheticism gave him eyes full of this appreciation. He stood on the noisy and chaotic shore, hoping to see the other side of beauty. Although the real "beauty" was shrouded in fog and the world was different, he caught a glimpse of a copy of it after all. You see, the island in the river is such a place: "splendid ichthyosaurs come out to bask in armor, so be flexible;" /Yuanyang finished washing and fell asleep with her beak/stuck in her wings. "This is a remarkable difference from this coast, full of vanity! Singing for beauty and being fascinated by art have formed a conscious opposition to the filth and disturbance of reality, which is the aesthete's outlook on life and art. However, in this greedy world, how many people really believe in her, worship her and pursue her? Needless to say, no one will go to the river like "he", even if he sees it, he is indifferent. Because true beauty is a mockery and challenge to their existence of drag out an ignoble existence. This is like Wen Yiduo's life in Tsinghua: most of his classmates fall into the pursuit of utilitarian life, or covet pleasure, or study hard, but the purpose is the same: to adapt to the lifestyle of this world as soon as possible, or to eat, drink and have fun like the declining citizens of China, or to eat, drink and have fun at a higher level after absorbing all kinds of secular glory; However, how many people are thinking about life, exploring the truth of life, and even willing to die for their own beautiful ideals? Wen Yiduo, who is addicted to aestheticism, is lonely, because the light of life he thinks is worthless to others; But he is also lucky: a great poet started from this unique way of thinking.
Secondly, we can say that this is a revelation of a certain way of life that exists universally in human society. Perhaps because of history, perhaps because of fate, the living conditions of human beings are always different. How many years have passed, the difference between the east coast and the west coast is likely to be shocking. If the east coast is always "shrouded in endless bitter fog,/rivers are shrouded in endless dead sleep." "Night coaxes the deaf and the blind." In a land where there is no truth, goodness and beauty, then history will give birth to its own fantasies, so some people, driven by the desire for survival, go far away to look for hope. Although the rivers are vertical and horizontal, although the end of the line of sight is still endless, the commotion of resistance is always inevitable. "Ah! The darkness on the east coast is only the shadow of the light on the west coast. " In fact, whether the West Bank exists or not is definitely sunny, which has nothing to do at all. What is important is that those who break out of the cage here need the "West Bank", and they can conceive their own "West Bank". At this time, some vague landscapes such as the island in the middle of the river became the driving force for their pursuit. This became their courage to transform the east coast. You know, this is the most precious spirit of human society. Without it, all human progress and revolution will cease to exist. However, the progress of history and the development of civilization have never been smooth sailing. There are both new hopes and old shackles. At the initial stage of each advance, traditional forces may still occupy a dominant position, binding, suppressing or even destroying the new forces in thought and public opinion. Therefore, when the "he" who rushed out of the cage on the east coast announced his discovery to people, there were almost no like-minded friends. Man always has such duality: he yearns for light and revolution, but is afraid of turmoil, clinging to the residue and maintaining the status quo; Besides, if you fall into the abyss of pain for a long time, the pain itself will become light and moving. So, there is no hope for human progress? Yes, isn't someone still asking: "Why"? It's just that the arrival of this day requires generations to make greater efforts.
In this symbolic sense, we might as well clarify the meaning of this long poem, which seems to be an artistic expression of China's social modernization process. A long river separates us from the world, and our ancient eastern power (East Coast) lives in the bitter fog of feudalism, so we have no way of knowing what the western world (West Coast) is like. Finally, one day, two rebellious ministers appeared who were unwilling to endure the bitter fog of feudalism. These "lunatics" brought the image of western civilization back to their hometown, and caused waves in the land of China. Some people call them crazy criminals who have forgotten their ancestors, while others object to maintaining "national characteristics" ("Is he from the west coast and the east coast?" ), some Chinese and Western cultures combine, and "stability" is the first priority ("The river is too wide and the fog is too thick./How stable it was to find a land guide!" ), breaking through resistance, there are only a few fearless pioneers. ...
We have analyzed these meanings of the West Bank. Does this mean that this long poem is fragmented and irrelevant? Perhaps some readers will also ask the question: these meanings are not all Wen Yiduo's thoughts at that time. What is the significance of a poet? In my opinion, such worries and doubts are unnecessary. According to the theory of modern hermeneutics, the meaning of poetry is likely to have different directions, and the poet may not have any definite fixed intention.
Of course, such a theory is by no means used to find reasons for those confusing and strange interpretations. The key is whether there is a certain possibility of mutual growth and transition between the various meanings we analyze, and whether there is some kind of "organic". In my opinion, between the above meanings, this "organic" exists.
Poets are dissatisfied with reality and look for aestheticism, which is obviously different from the living state of human society. They are simple, complex, concrete and abstract. However, the individual's pursuit of life is often the epitome of the overall living state of mankind. Undoubtedly, the poet's pursuit of aestheticism is also a part of human self-transformation. It is certain that a person who dares to hate the world in a specific living environment must also be a pioneer in the progress of human history. Similarly, the course of China's traditional society facing the world and moving towards modernization is also a model of human social progress. Those "lunatics" who shout resistance in the "iron house" are just arrogant and unruly people.
It should be said that it is difficult to express such an abstract, complicated and complicated idea in the form of poetry. Perhaps, as far as the stylistic features of poetry are concerned, it is destined to be longer than lyricism and the narrative is unlikely to be too broad. As for writing "fables" in the form of poems, there are obviously many troubles. Therefore, in the whole history of modern poetry in China, a long fable similar to The West Coast is really rare. Wen Yiduo, a young man, broke through many difficulties and made bold explorations in the early stage of the birth and development of China's new poetry. His spirit is very valuable. Although poetry is inevitably a bit boring, it has made great contributions in the history of art. In artistic exploration, the West Coast itself is also an attempt to yearn for the West Coast!