The Narrative Study Of Small Cities And Towns Of Jiangnan In The Early Twentieth Century

In the early twentieth century,numerous changes took place in small cities and towns of Jiangnan.The novels of Lu Xun and Mao Dun reappear the situation at that time.By reading the novels of small cities and towns of Lu Xun and Mao Dun in Jiangnan and combining with social and historical materials,this paper tries to re-creat the rural appearance in Jiangnan.As early as Ming and Qing Dynasties,a large number of towns appeared in Jiangnan.This is a new social and cultural phenomenon in country.However,the Opium War changed the social and historical process.After Shanghai opened its port,the system of small cities and towns in Jiangnan changed accordingly.The most important phenomenon is that with the prosperity of Shanghai,the country of Jiangnan declined.In this historical background,Lu Xun and Mao Dun began their writing.In Lu Xun’s novels,the country and small towns in Jiangnan present beautiful natural scenery.But it’s also a kind of social and cultural space.In the early twentieth century,the culture of feudal ethical plays a role in country and small towns of Jiangnan.However,the feudal ethical control is different in country and small towns.The lower class in small towns suffer from the decline of rural economy.The collapse of the rural community makes people lose protection and more unfortunate.Lu Xun recorded not only this situation,but also his own feelings.As a city intellectual who was born in the town and got the modern education,he can understand his hometown in another way.He had a clearer understanding of his hometown,and showed more sympathy for the downtrodden,but also felt more powerless.Only if leave and abandon such space can the new world be born.In Mao Dun’s novels,the country and small towns in Jiangnan were another situation.The little steamer appeared in the country.The imperialist economy symbolized by it affected every family in the country of Jiangnan.Under the impact of modern industry,sericulture and silk industry were hurt,which were very important for peasants in Jiangnan.During the world economic crisis of the 1930 s,capitalist businessmen in small cities and towns mercilessly exploited peasants for their own interests.Lu Xun’s and Mao Dun’s novels not only reappear the image of country in the early twentieth century,but also preserve their thoughts about the future of the rural society in Jiangnan.Lu Xun began to think about how to change social inequality.In this situation,the subconscious of peasants is the key to the problem.Only if the subconscious can let the oppressed people realize the irrationality of the real world.This is the basis for a new world.At the same time,Lu Xun’s memories of his childhood shows an ideal society without patriarchal relations,hierarchy and equality.Mao Dun denied the golden world that Laotongbao imagined.There is no "golden age".Only if we fight like Duoduotou can the country have a future.Through the careful study of novels of small cities and towns,the paper shows the reappearance of the rural landscape by Lu Xun’s and Mao Dun’s different perspectives,as well as their similar feelings and thoughts about the future of the country in Jiangnan.It’s very important for us to understand the complexity of small cities in Jiangnan.At the same time,it provides some useful thinking for Lu Xun and Mao Dun’s research,as well as the rural issues under capitalism.