[Original] Comments on Lao She's Works
Familiarity stage
At first, I was not more interested in Lao She's works than those of Lu Xun, Cao Yu and Ba Jin. The first work I read by Mr. Wang is the short story "A Crescent Moon". I can't say I don't feel anything, but I didn't even mention my name in my diary, but Zhang Ailing left a feeling after reading The Golden Lock. Now that I think about it, it may be that the depression and despair in the novel are too strong for me to write.
My whole life
Because I watched TV series and read Mr. Lao She's novella My Life before, the protagonist's rough experience, confusion and doubt about the dark society and repeated compromise on reality all brought people a bitter feeling.
Compared with the original, this TV series not only adds many roles (such as Rui Girl, Zhao Er, etc. ) and the original plot, but also extended the time span back more than ten years, the original characters (that is, Liu Fangzi), Fu Hai (that is) and Feng (that is) the fate and character of the deduction and processing. But in this way, the image of the protagonist is not as full as the original.
In addition, in the plot, the mutiny in Beijing was changed to robbery in zhang xun restoration, and the looting by people was deleted, which obviously avoided the profound and sharp ideological connotation of the original work. As for why the name of the hero's son should be changed to the hero's own name, I am even more puzzled.
Cat City
It took me 22 days to finish reading Cat City because of the hot weather. The novel was written in 1932. Through the adventures of the protagonist "I" on Mars, this paper describes an ancient cat country that is about to die in a fable way, in order to allude to the decay, depravity, ignorance, selfishness and courage of old China. ...
Cat country, bureaucrats are ignorant, the people are numb, the army is lax and tyrannical, and students wander around causing trouble. Residents don't like to eat. They only eat a drug called "Ye Fan" and are always in a state of drunkenness. For foreigners, cats are obedient and dependent; The enemy invaded and didn't want to resist, but they were still killing each other when they perished. The actions of individual sober people, such as scorpions and eagles, failed to save the fate of national subjugation and extinction. Finally,
Desperate suicide or self-sacrifice
Because the author doesn't understand socialism, he satirizes and criticizes the catman's practice of "everyone is the master" and "Mazu Daxian" in the same exaggerated way. But I think: the author is not denying socialism, but is dissatisfied with some aspects of Soviet socialism. It is impossible for Jiang Qing to understand this view that transcends the times, so the author's tragic ending is inevitable (which is also the reason why I read A Tale of Cat City).
Although this book didn't even like Mr. Lao She himself later, it became my favorite domestic modern literary work because of its interesting form and sharp criticism (although in the wrong direction).
Camel Xiangzi (after reading)
It took me eight days to finish reading Camel Xiangzi in Lao She's Selected Novels, which is a required reading series in the new Chinese curriculum, and two days to reread the short story Crescent Moon. Only the former is discussed here.
Through the car buying experience of Xiangzi, a foreign driver, the novel gradually shattered his ideals and ambitions in the face of cruel reality, and degenerated from an underclass youth who hoped to live a good life through personal struggle to a lazy hooligan, reflecting the social outlook of old Peiping and even old China.
For the sake of Xiangzi's kindness, self-confidence and a little selfishness, he turned to eating, drinking, gambling, playing tricks, cheating and reporting; Tigress's vulgarity and laziness and their negative influence on Xiangzi's life: Joey's bumpy and tragic fate; Mr. Cao's tolerance and understanding of civilians are vividly shown in his novels. As for the shrewd and enthusiastic Gao Ma (Cao Jia Ya Huan), the old coachman, the cold and greedy detective Sun, the enchanting Mrs. Xia and other minor figures, although there is not much pen and ink, they are unforgettable.
The novel is written in Beijing dialect, and some words I haven't heard have strong local color, which prompted me to buy a collection. The psychological description of the characters is also wonderful.
Both Camel Xiangzi and Crescent Moon included in Lao She's selected novels show the process of a young man and a young girl from pursuing ideals to decadence in the old society, and the heroine of Crescent Moon, as a woman, has a more tragic fate.
The third act of the teahouse
On the same day after reading The Red Ribbon of the Earth, I also finished the third act of Lao She's three-act drama Teahouse. My sister read the second act in the textbook when she was in high school, and the first act was borrowed from 1997 Lao Zhang's secretary's house. It took more than ten years to see the complete play.
In the third act, except that the receiver of the national government accused Liang of "rebellion", spies ran rampant and betrayed the national capitalist industry, the prostitution of pockmarked Xiao Liu and Tie Zui was "trusted", and grandma (the four nieces of eunuch Pang) took advantage of the "road" to ascend to the throne of "Queen", which impressed her the most, surpassing today's society.
The "ugly picture" is even more "gorgeous", which strongly refutes the statement that the national government is defended by facts.
Lao She's Collection of Short Stories (After Reading)
Yesterday, the e-book Lao She's Short Stories became the first book I read this year. Apart from My Life, I have never touched it in books. Apart from Burning Car, Rabbit and Thing, which criticized the arrogance, the law of the jungle and flattery in the old society, the other six articles, such as Killing Dogs, Letters from Home and Bathing Slave, described War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, praised the courage and unyielding of ordinary people and criticized their selfish, cowardly and narcissistic habits.
Deep stage
In the spring of 2008, I was intrigued by the story of Lao She and had the idea of reading some other works of Lao She. On the eve of the Spring Festival in the third grade, the scheduled "Reading Year of Lao She's Works" began.
divorce
It took 12 days to finish reading Lao She's earlier novel Divorce. Through the divorce of several employees, it reflects the social outlook in the 1930s from one side and criticizes the cowardice and anxiety of intellectuals, especially Lao Li.
It is true that Lao Li is dissatisfied with the dark society, but he can sometimes make brave moves, which is different from Lao Wu, Mr. Qiu and others. However, after all, he dared not break with the dark society and vulgar life, and finally he could only take the way of escape. However, depending on his weakness, escape may not be able to persist. But this can't make Lao Li take full responsibility. Others have repeatedly compromised in reality, so that he can't see the hope of life.
Zhang Dage and his wife are completely used to and even like this darkness, and being helpful is close to evil. However, the cruel rule still made them face unexpected troubles, and they were freed from them because of Mr. Ding's heroic behavior for the first time in his life (but kept in the dark).
Xiao Zhao is not only in cahoots, but also an accomplice of darkness. He is narrow-minded, narrow-minded and hypocritical. Fortunately, he was finally strangled by Mr. Ding, which did not cause more harm.
Lao She also alluded to the Kuomintang secret service with respectable courage, saying that Xiao Zhao seemed to be one of them.
The novel vividly describes the psychological feelings and changes of the characters, even minor characters, without losing the local characteristics of Beiping. Especially the description of Xiao Zhao, after fully exposing his ugly heart, also reveals his sympathy for cheating Zhang Xiuzhen (Zhang Dage's daughter), showing the complexity of human nature is in place.
four generations under one roof
I have watched the TV series adapted from "Four Generations under One roof" 1985 twice, but unfortunately I didn't watch all of them. After reading the original book, I not only saw the slaughter, abuse and exploitation of Japanese invaders, but also saw different forms of resistance by patriots and ordinary people. In addition to the description of the local customs, products and food in Beiping, and the analysis of the mentality and strategy of the invaders, I also criticized the numbness and weakness of Beiping people under occupation, which made me see the shadow of Lu Xun.
Under the domineering of the enemy, the resignation and peace of the old man Qi played a short-lived role, and was finally crushed by continuous blows. Qi Tianyou's honest duty, Mo Qian's immersion poems describe the old poet's indifference to the world, and Xiaowen and his wife have no concern for their own small world, and they have failed to avoid the destruction of individuals or families. At the worst time, although there was no collective resistance under the threat of hunger, Qian, as a literati, resolutely embarked on the road of resistance and even throwing grenades after being injured and ruined; Qi Ruixuan, who has always endured humiliation for his family, also devoted himself to underground propaganda after burning his last job in the Pacific War. The departure of Master Liu, the revenge of Master Chang's son Daniel, and Li Shifu's counterattack against the Japanese gendarmerie all indicate that there are many sparks of resistance among ordinary people. Even Xiaowen, who was indifferent all his life, made the only heroic move after his wife was killed for no reason-smashing the head of the Japanese officer who committed the crime.
Lao She is really good at telling stories. When I first read it, I just felt a little tired of the lengthy description of daily life. I saw that the old man Qian was arrested by the Japanese army for telling tales about Guan Xiaohe, and Qian's parents and Qian Furen died tragically one after another. Just after the funeral of Qian's family, the old man of Qian's family accidentally threw himself in front of his house, with many scars on his body ... Teacher Jin accompanied Mr. Qian into Guan's house where he was playing mahjong, and taught Guan Xiaohe and Da Chibao a lesson, which made me feel happy for the first time after a long time of grief and indignation. What makes me more happy is that almost all the traitors in the book have no good ending, which corrects the wrong impression I got from the TV series: the earth is as powerful as the big red envelope of Empress Dowager Cixi in the west, and finally died in a Japanese prison. Although the death was tragic, it did not arouse my slightest sympathy. Guan Xiaohe, who spared no effort to flatter and invite pets, but lacked the courage to do evil, died in the hands of his master like the selfish and vulgar Qi Ruifeng, and he didn't know where he was wrong until he died. He is both hateful and sad. Lan Dongyang, as vicious as Tai Chi Bao, dared to harm others only when he was safe, and finally died in the atomic bomb explosion in Japan. This reptile is contemptible and ridiculous. have only
It's a pity that I was promoted by my ex-boyfriend Qi Ruiquan, because she degenerated into a spy, mainly influenced by her family, and she was very beautiful.
Let's talk about deeper feelings: First, Lao She's consistent local characteristics in Beijing have not hindered his profound thoughts and broad vision.
The second is the boring A Peng of Reed Flute.
The host said that Lao She was "good at expressing human nature", which was true, but it was different from "humanization". Guan Xiaohe and Da Chibao are sometimes a bit "human", but that is based on selfishness. For example, Guan Xiaohe's unforgettable love, regardless of the big red envelope, went to collect the body of You Tongfang, but his feelings for concubines could not resist the fear of wild cemeteries. This spark of "humanity" does not shine on the dark and evil mind.
Zhao Ziyue
It took me five days to finish reading Lao She's earliest successful novel Zhao Ziyue (written in 1926), describing the different mental outlook of a group of college students in the 1920s. Of course, the most prominent is Zhao Ziyue, who is vulgar, boring, overbearing, afraid of hardship and shows no fear of power. He dared to take the lead in organizing students to make a scene at school and beat the headmaster, but he was afraid to rescue Tan Yu 'e, a fellow villager who was forced into hooliganism by retired officers-it was also because seeing each other after drinking was not beautiful at first sight, fearing that the officers would retaliate (funding Tan Yu 'e a little money) and leave the job of tutor to escape. He, Wu Duan and Mo Danian always suspected that Li Jingchun was as jealous as they were, and they didn't know that they had wronged their dead classmates until they saw Ms. Wang's letter to Li Jingchun.
Li Jingchun is a respectable and promising young man. People have repeatedly advised Zhao Ziyue to do something beneficial to the country and society and not to idle about. He did not advocate the use of violence, but in order to kill people and save Ms. Wang and Professor Zhang, he decided to assassinate the warlord commander He. Unfortunately, he failed and was arrested. At the end of his life, he continued to inspire Zhao Ziyue and others, and finally urged them to turn over a new leaf.
Ouyang Tianfeng, a despicable villain, has become the root of all evil, and I don't want to say more.
Lao She's humorous style, especially in the subtle movements of the characters, enriches the characters' personalities.
In addition, it is written in the novel that students are dissatisfied with the exam, and when they make a scene at school, they cut off the ears of the old clerk and nail them on the doorframe, which is related to the description of the cat country students cutting the principal's body in Cat City. It seems that this is not entirely out of fantasy. ...
cremate
On the same day as Zhao Ziyue, I finished reading a novel "Cremation" written by Lao She during the Anti-Japanese War.
I learned about this reportedly unsuccessful work in Lao She's Story, so I became interested in it. But after reading it, I can't say how bad it is. Maybe I have bad taste. Lao She's description of an anti-Japanese soldier like The History Captain of the Plainclothes Team is superficial, but he is not the protagonist. In addition, when the plainclothes team began to attack the city, the description of pockmarked Tian and the Japanese gendarmerie was also somewhat dramatic. But beyond that, the portrayal of characters, especially the scene where Wang succumbed to the enemy to save his life, is not mediocre. This character reminds me of Professor Niu in Four Generations under One roof, and Professor Niu is just a minor figure who doesn't appear. Others, such as Meng Lian (the daughter of Wang), the internal root of Miss Jiao's transformation into a female warrior, the wisdom and generosity of Captain Shi's death, and Liu's stupidity and vanity (a bit like Lan Dongyang) to wipe out the traitors, are all vivid. There is also pockmarked Tian's psychology, which is surly and unwilling to do bad things-this really embodies the idea of "humanization", but it is still within a reasonable range. Although the novel is short, it is no less cruel to the Japanese aggressors and traitors than to a family of four generations.
It can be seen that the works of literary masters, even "inferior works", are beyond my power.
Shenquan
Due to the lack of motivation of readers, it took another five days, as if God were joking, to finish reading a famous play by Lao She after the founding of the People's Republic. At this point, the "Reading Year of Lao She's Works" came to an end.
During the period of the Boxer Movement, a peasant boxer headed by Gao Yongyi and Gao Sister-in-law was brewing in a county of Zhili (now Hebei).
In the process of defending Beijing, we can see that the land shows the whole development process of the boxer movement. As for the cause of the Boxer Rebellion, the author explained the drought in the north and the dumping of foreign goods with concise dialogue, and in the fourth act, he also showed the tricks of the Qing court to "openly attack Dongjiaominxiang (embassy district)". Another reason for the outbreak, the contradiction between people and religion, is shown by the arrogance of night owls, which reflects the ugliness of his converted brother and bully Zhang Feilong.
Others, such as Lord He Ming, reflect the pedantic and timid style of Qing court officials, while Father Joe reflects the hypocrisy and insidiousness of the invaders, which is not very good.
In addition to sympathy and praise for the Boxers, the author shows their ignorance and superstition, but deliberately downplays them. Although Tian, a rich boy, wrote about his speculative self-protection and fish in troubled waters, he did not touch the poor people's indiscriminate killing of scum-this is an important reason why the Boxer was accused. These shortcomings are due to the limitations of the times, not the author's ability. Under the general climate, China writers can't write profound works.
Reflections on Lao She's Classic Works (Volume I and Volume II)
I bought Lao She's masterpiece (Volume I) published by China Broadcasting Press from Joyo. The original price in 65 yuan and Joyo is 59.6 yuan, which is equivalent to 88% discount. To tell the truth, compared with other books, the discount is not very big. But this book is a very good one, with two volumes and more than 700 pages. There is a heavy feeling that the packaging is not luxurious, but it is in line with the style of Mr. Lao She's works.
I don't know why this book was written as "Author: Yi Shu" in the excellent introduction. In my opinion, this is inappropriate, right? I know that this "Author: Yi Shu" is actually the son of Mr. Lao She, but he is not the real author of these good works after all. Actually, editing is more correct. And the cover of this book must be printed with "Editor Yi Shu". Why did Excellence make such a mistake? It's a little puzzling. It shouldn't happen.
Mr Lao She's talent is beyond reproach. He is indeed a great writer, with a civilian style and natural humor. He claims to be unique. It is suggested to focus on the preface in front, which is extremely concise and accurate. After reading this preface, we can better read and understand Mr. Lao She's article. I wonder who wrote this wonderful preface? I don't think it's his son Yi Shu, because it doesn't sound like it. It should have been written by someone with more weight. At the beginning, I summarized the five most important characteristics of Mr. Lao She, and these five points "are the five keys to know him."
I like Cat City. Anyone with a little historical knowledge will know that what Mr. Lao She said was the national conditions of old China decades before and after the Republic of China, but it was under the guise of a so-called "cat country" adventure, and its true meaning was self-evident. Mr. Lao She, like Mr. Lu Xun, deeply loved his motherland and people, and saw that the country was invaded and the people were miserable.
The oppressed are convulsed. What they can do is to criticize the society and darkness with their own pens, hoping that a leading group can truly lead the people of China and save China and the Chinese nation on the verge of extinction. When Mr. Lao She wrote these novels, it was mostly around the 1930s. At that time, there was no strong influence of the * * * production party, so on the whole, Mr. Lao She was more pessimistic than optimistic. At the end of "A Tale of Cat City", he wrote the tragic situation that selfish and infighting cats were all extinct under the attack of foreign invaders. He wrote, "In order to describe what I saw, my eyes were blinded by crying; And the "dwarf" who perished in Cat Country, I think, undoubtedly refers to Japan. I can't help but admire Mr. Lao She's foresight. He has seen that China people will not perish under foreigners, but will only commit suicide because of selfish infighting, and Japan will never be our friend, and they will never give up the delusion of destroying China! What a profound insight this is! But now we still can't let go of Mr. Lao She's worries, because our hearts are still uneven, and there are still many people who are willing to be Japanese slaves and proud to be Japanese traitors. This is a terrible fact, but it is a fact. Many things in China are actually rotten in the hands of traitors, who are always emerging one after another. They are really desperate!
Taking office is a short story, full of humor and making people laugh. "Under the Red Flag" feels similar to "Little Man's Self-Report". They are all autobiographical novels of Mr. Lao She, but unfortunately they haven't been finished, especially Under the Red Flag, which has just started, and the wonderful drama is about to begin, becoming a swan song! Oh, what a pity! If it weren't for the Cultural Revolution, Mr. Lao She doesn't know how many wonderful works he would have created! However, according to his personality, it is a typical "scholar can be killed but not humiliated", so when the Cultural Revolution comes, he will not die, even if he will not write another word. Alas, the tragedy of the times killed many real people!
Reflections on Reading Beijing Spring Festival
Just after the exam, my parents asked me to preview the content of next semester. I am very unhappy. It's almost the Spring Festival. I just finished the exam and didn't let people rest. Too "fascist".
Turning over the book mechanically, I thought of the Spring Festival, and actually saw an article "Spring Festival in Beijing", not wanting to be attracted.
It turns out that the Spring Festival is so lively. According to this date, it is time to prepare for the Spring Festival. In the past, the Spring Festival in Beijing began on the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month: people cooked laba porridge, soaked laba garlic, bought new year's goods, and celebrated the Spring Festival ... to make full preparations for the Spring Festival.
But what about now? No festive atmosphere, no fun, alas. Nowadays, people's ways and habits of celebrating the New Year can't be found in Mr. Lao She's eyes. Laba porridge, sesame sugar and jiaozi, I seldom eat them, or even have never eaten them. What I used to eat during the Spring Festival was supposed to be delicious, but I didn't. Now I eat hamburgers, French fries and coke. Sure, it tastes good.
I really want to go back to the past, have a big meal and have fun. The previous month was the Spring Festival!
Reflections on Reading Beijing Spring Festival
Mr Lao She thinks Lantern Festival is the climax of the New Year. "New Year's Eve is lively, but there is no moonlight: the Lantern Festival happens to be a bright moon in the sky." Of course, this cannot be a reason. I'm afraid Mr. Lao She is most concerned about the Lantern Festival and fireworks.
I think New Year's Eve and the first day of the first month are the most beautiful! Not to mention that workers will return to work before the Lantern Festival, and students will return to school, which is really disappointing. In addition, there are some differences in tradition and culture between the north and the south and between the east and the west in China, and they attach different importance to the Lantern Festival. Even some places have weakened. On the other hand, on New Year's Eve, the whole country is celebrating. China people all over the country, inside and outside the Great Wall, all over the world are singing and laughing-saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new!
I'm afraid there is no sweeter and more beautiful word in China's writing than "New Year's Eve"! Where is the sweetness and beauty? I'm afraid it's the National Day behind the competition, family reunion and bright lights!
And The First Month? "The first day of the first month" is also happy-the new year has begun again. Although I have never understood why this day is always full of joy, since I am happy, I don't think so much.
Nowadays, with the arrival of the "May Day" and "Eleventh" Golden Week, as well as the long vacation time and more alternative leisure ways, the complex of "Year" has faded, but in any case, "Year" has been deeply rooted in people's hearts and is a symbol of reunion, harmony and peace!
In the words of Mr. Lao She, "In the past, people relied on ghosts and gods to bless the New Year. Now that their labor is over, everyone should have a happy holiday. "