Comments On Wang Anyi's Novels

Wang Anyi is considered as one of the most influential writers in Chinese Mainland in recent 20 years. This article is to survey the macro-trend of Wang Anyi's novel creation from four aspects. Firstly, from "righting fate" in her early period, which is purely optimistic with youthful vigour, to "netted by fate" in her later period, which is more complicated and sentimental, there is a clear developing process of outlook on fate in Wang Anyi's novels. Secondly, from "reality" to "mentality", from the perspective of women's outlook on love in certain realistic grade to the unique and deep understanding of love mentally, the change in Wang Anyi's creation of women's love novels is obvious in her different periods. She has made love the tool of philosophic thinking. Thirdly, a reminiscent mood, bound with root-seeking consciousness, constitutes Wang Anyi's unique aesthetic style in her novels. The reminiscence in Wang Anyi's novels springs from an old Shanghai myth in image instead of reality. Whereas passionately devoted to composing a dreamlike old Shanghai, Wang Anyi cannot help betraying her deep irony to it. Fourthly, Wang Anyi's word intention and writing attitude are closely related to Zhang Ailing's novel creation, especially in "opposing nihility by detail". However, Wang Anyi does not appreciate Zhang Ailing's sense of nihility. Compared to Zhang Ailing, Wang Anyi reveals her uniqueness in the experience of sense of nihility. The unique compassion and tenderness Wang Anyi reveals makes us realize that Wang Anyi is not Zhang Ailing, but Wang Anyi herself.