To Study The Adaptation Of The Legend Of White Snake

The Legend of White Snake is one of the most popular tales of China. It exists in the memory of Chinese as a prototype. Nowadays, The Legend of White Snake becomes a very important theme of literature, and countless creative writers rewrite the tale with distinctive colors and social significance. However, the lively of the situation with the Legend of White Snake rewritten faces the lack of essential attention of academic community. A large number of the works with profound ideological content and higher artistic value are buried and forgotten. So, studying on the works is of great significance. It can not only fill the lack of academic but also provide theoretical guidance to the writers who want to rewrite the tale.I use the theory of Intertextuality, the theory of literary and sociological, and the theory of Close Reading to study the works of the Legend White Snake of different times. Object of this paper covers works of the mainland of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and overseas. So, this paper has important academic value. This paper found out some problems which have been ignored by the predecessors.The works Before the May Fourth were often filled with the ethical code of Confucian thought and Buddhist concept which oppose free love and common sex. Since the May Fourth, writers begin to explain the tale with modern sense, and the ancient legends shine a new light.Xiang Peiliang, Gao Changhong and Gu Yiqiao rewrite the tale and their works have expressionistic feature. There is distinctive the May Fourth Spirit in their works. Works with the theme of love oppose the feudal ethical code, expose the darkness of society, and reveal the pain of life. It has a strong practical significance and is a part of literary enlightenment.Xie Songgao, QiuWeng, Bao Tianxiao, Wei Juxian and others in 1940s rewrite of the tale and their works have a distinct feature of "reality". Generally speaking, rewriting the tale in this way is out of a purpose for revealing the darkness of the society rather than out of artistic consideration. Such rewriting of course has a certain critical intensity to the reality, and it can give the readers a novel experience. However, its shortcomings are obvious in that it has missed legendary plot.Rewriting the tale in 1950s and 1960s is affected by political power. The Drama Reform movement makes rewriting the tale active, producing a lot of works. However, the collective adaptation also makes works of this period lose their uniqueness, resulting in the disadvantages of formulation and conceptualization. The theme is revealing the darkness of the feudal society by the government. Works critics Fa Hai, who is the representative of the feudal forces, and praise the white snake and green snake, who representing people's spirit of resistance.Since the late of 1970s, as the political power's affection on literary gradually weakened, rewriting the tale is very active. Rewriting the tale is not confined to the mainland of China, the writers of Taiwan, Hong Kong and even overseas also play an active role. A lot of works of the tale are crated during this period.The Legend of White Snake can be always adapted. It can be interpreted from different angles by different authors. Authors can give the tale with a new theme, plot or characters. The modern sense is essential to rewrite the legend. The significant form will make the rewriting of the tale send out bright light.