In this essay the focus will be on the motif of cannibalism in “A Madman’s Diary” (Kuangren riji), which is the central image of this short-story. I will examine it in the socio-political context the story was written in and analyse possible readings. Furthermore since the meaning of the image of cannibalism in this text has been thoroughly discussed over the last century, I want to go on briefly exploring the choice of this motif itself. Why has Lu Xun chosen this very image of cannibalism and what could we learn from this about the author’s view of (traditional) Chinese society?
Lu Xun’s story has already been interpreted many times and in different ways. However it is and remains a significant and complex literary piece that should be read and interpreted again and again. First of all because of its importance for the history of modern Chinese literature, generally being considered to be the first modern Chinese short-story (Hsia 33) and even more to mark the beginning of modern Chinese literature itself (Chou 1042). Despite this evident contribution to the genre of modern Chinese fiction, Lu Xun’s story can also be viewed as a “prototypical text of social protest and criticism in modern Chinese literature” (Tang).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Main body
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the central motif of cannibalism in Lu Xun’s "A Madman’s Diary," analyzing it within the socio-political context of early 20th-century China to understand the author’s critique of traditional society and Confucian morality.
- The historical and literary significance of "A Madman's Diary"
- Lu Xun's personal background and the influence of the New Culture Movement
- Categorization and historical function of cannibalism in Chinese literature
- The symbolic meaning of cannibalism as a critique of feudalistic society
- Western intellectual influences on Lu Xun’s narrative and ideology
Excerpt from the Book
“A Madman’s Diary” and the image of cannibalism
After having established the context of the first publication of “A Madman’s Diary”, which evidently has essentially impacted Lu Xun’s story, I will now move on to analysing and interpreting its content. In the story’s framework plot a narrator retells his visit to an old friend living in his hometown whose younger brother had recently suffered from a “persecution complex” (Lu Xun 762). During this time the “madman” had kept a diary which the narrator copied out “to serve as a subject for medical research” (ibid). In the following short segments of the diary, a man describes his terror and shock as his entire village, including his family, seems to reveal their cannibalistic nature. To him it appears as if they conspire against him to drive him to killing himself in order to eat his flesh.
Before taking a closer look at the motif of cannibalism in the story, I want to situate the act of cannibalism in a wider context. As Goldblatt puts it: “(…) cannibalism has a long, complex, and well-documented history, occurring in virtually every society (…)” (477). Since it combines the crime of murder, the consumption of the mortal remains (and therefore violating funeral rites) and the complete abandonment of civilised behaviour, it could be considered as the “ultimate secular taboo” (ibid). Of course cannibalism has different reasons and is carried out in many different ways, but according to Chong, it can be divided into two main categories: survival cannibalism, i.e. eating human flesh to survive in times of famine or war, and learned cannibalism. Learned cannibalism is more complex and can have all sorts of reasons, for example hatred, jealousy or revenge as well as love or loyalty, which in Chinese society often meant sacrificing one’s own flesh out of filial piety. Eating human meat, especially children and women, for its delicate taste or for superstitious/medical reasons occurred in literature as well as in real life.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the literary background of the short story, establishes the focus on the motif of cannibalism, and outlines the methodological approach used in the essay.
Main body: Discusses the historical context of the author, analyzes the cannibalism motif through various scholarly interpretations, and examines the impact of Western thinkers on Lu Xun’s narrative.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, affirming the multi-dimensionality of the story and its enduring importance as a critique of Chinese social and cultural history.
Keywords
Lu Xun, A Madman’s Diary, Cannibalism, New Culture Movement, Chinese Literature, Confucianism, Social Criticism, Modernization, Bai hua, Symbolism, Traditional Society, Intellectual Disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines the central motif of cannibalism in Lu Xun’s short story "A Madman’s Diary" to interpret its deeper meaning regarding the state of traditional Chinese society.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the critique of Confucian morality, the historical struggle for modernization in China, the social impact of the New Culture Movement, and the role of the individual as an insurgent.
What is the central research question?
The essay explores why Lu Xun chose the specific image of cannibalism and what this choice reveals about his perspective on traditional Chinese culture and societal values.
Which scientific method is employed?
The author uses a literary-analytical approach, contextualizing the text within historical, socio-political, and intellectual frameworks while incorporating secondary academic literature for comparative analysis.
What topics are covered in the main body of the essay?
The main body covers the author's biographical background, the classification of cannibalism (survival vs. learned), interpretations of the motif by various scholars, and the influence of Western writers like Gogol and Nietzsche.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Lu Xun, cannibalism, New Culture Movement, social criticism, and modern Chinese literature.
How does the author interpret the "madman" in the story?
The "madman" is presented as a tragic, courageous figure who, through his awakening, realizes the systemic nature of the "cannibalistic" society, yet ultimately remains isolated and ineffective in his attempt to transform the minds of others.
What is the significance of the "iron cell" metaphor mentioned in the text?
The "iron cell" represents Lu Xun’s pessimistic view of a trapped, sleeping Chinese society from which there is seemingly no escape, though he uses literature as a tool to potentially awaken those inside.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dorina Marlen Heller (Autor:in), 2015, China - A Country of Cannibals? The Motif of Cannibalism in Lu Xun’s “A Madman’s Diary”, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/513012
