Spiritual Dilemma Under Consumerism

Intellectual image is an important component of the literary characters in modern and contemporary Chinese literature. It presents different features in different times. Chinese novels at the beginning of 21st century generally observe intellectuals'existential dilemma, especially their spiritual dilemma. Among them, How Can I Forget Hollyhock by Zhang Wei, The Water of Cang Lang by Yan Zhen and Peaches and Plums by Zhang Zhe reflect the mutual deceptions at the Vanity Fair among present-day intellectuals and their indulgence in material pursuit, and thus reveal three kinds of intellectual image in spiritual dilemma. These images, with distinct features of consumption times, show the authors'criticism about consumerism and their reflection of intellectual roles. We can see from the tragedy of these images the authors'sense of crisis about their own position and their pondering of"what intellectuals can do". This dissertation conducts a case study of these novels, expounds intellectuals'ideological conflicts, value changes and psychological confusion in the context of consumerism, and finally explores their causes. The dissertation consists of three parts.The first part analyzes the intellectual images in those three novels. According to the characters and personalities, these images are categorized into traditional type, transitional type and worldly type. Traditional intellectuals are greatly influenced by the value held by"shi", worldly intellectuals are affected by consumerism, and transitional intellectuals are between the two. They are characterized by the embarrassment, compromise and indulgence of the intellectuals nowadays in the time of value absence.The second part focuses on the differences of intellectual images in the early 20th century and at the beginning of 21st century. Their differences, caused by times, mainly lie in their spiritual world, life path, and attitude towards sex. The unstable society of the early 20th century did not shake intellectuals'proud mission. The intellectual image in this era demonstrates authors'critical thought about reality and tradition. However, the cultural shock and chaotic value at the beginning of 21st century has led to intellectuals'role crisis. Many authors of this time are at a loss, and the intellectuals they have created come from the real life.The third part deals with the causes for the creation of intellectual image in early 21st century from the perspective of era context and author's state of mind. In the context of consumerism when social values are shifted fundamentally, the authors cannot totally agree on consumerism, nor can they remove the role crisis of intellectuals. Under these circumstances, three authors create these types of intellectual image, thereby reflecting their meditation on the role that intellectuals should play.