| With Stories in the End of the Qing Dynasty shaded by the influence of May 4th Event, this thesis focuses on the Modernity and tries to explain the fact that the modernization of Chinese Literature started to take place by the End of the Qing Dynasty on the basis of two stories: Flowers in Shanghai and A flower in the Sea of Degradation. In the fields of moral principles, concepts of values, professional identities, narrative methods and so on, the thesis analyses concrete texts and historical contexts, interprets the transition from tradition to Modernity and exposes the diversity of stories at that time so that to recommend a new comprehension of the essential elements during the modernity of Chinese Literature.The thesis consists of the following parts:I.A general introduction of the Literature Tradition in the circle of Prostitute women. Those women were very important to the Classical Chinese Literature and stories about them followed the theme of love since the Tang Dynasty. However, when it comes to the End of the Qing Dynasty, the two stories Flowers in Shanghaiand A Flower in the Sea of Degradation carried the new fashion of the time and presented a different style.II. As a portray of romance in Shanghai in the End of the Qing Dynasty, Flowers in Shanghai, written by Han Bangqing, gives a rare family atmosphere and people in the fun on occasion in the brothel acted like true couples. However, once they stepped out of the brothel, orthodox principles must be strictly followed.III. Surprisingly, A Flower in the sea of Degradation by Zeng Pu describes a prostitute girl who was fantastically sent on a diplomatic mission to Europe with her husband. This is a thorough overturn of even the most exaggerated imagination of prostitute women in the tradition of Chinese Literature. The author intended to communicate between history and novel by such a legend.IV. As part of the Literature Tradition concerning prostitute women, these two stories deconstruct by accident the myth of Rescue and Return to A Family, which were taken for granted by the scholars. Thedegradation of the romance in a traditional way is a symbol that the myth is disappearing, and that the moral principles of a developing commercial society, are winning those authorized of an agricultural society.V. The multi-possibility at the cross of the centuries first manifests itself with updating the morals and values gradually. With the authorized principles losing control, the characters of ambiguity and sophistication are taking the place. Besides, the separation of soul and body, and the unscrupulous behavior are not condemned as much as we thought in the book of A Flower in the Sea of Degradation.VI. One of the cultural characters in the modern society is the commercial tendency, which confirms the professional role by individuals, and comes the contradiction between public space and private space. However, the prostitute women in Shanghai could travel in the confusing map of desire with little bondage of traditional principles.VII. Another significant symbol of the modernity in literature is the abundant narrative methods. As for the two stories mentioned in the thesis, Flowers in Shanghai shows unconsciously the modern characters of initiative and introspectiveness, and the subconsicousness of the heroines. They also break through the traditional narrative way of separate description closer to the modern literature. Flowers in Shanghai uses Shanghai dialect instead of Mandarin while A Flower in the Sea of Degradation implies the political idea of the author with the authorized language. Here Modernity expresses itself in the way of desires and materials. With the manifestations of sensibility of linear history and self-conscious awareness of space, these two stories embody another side of Modernity. In the confusing and meaningful time of the Late Qing Dynasty, the paradox between Grand Narrative and Private Narrative still existed. |
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