ENG 273: World Literature

  Joined “New Culture Movement”  Reform literature and culture through language and the act of writing  Wrote “Diary of a Madman” as a criticism of traditional Chinese culture  Published in 1918  Written in vernacular Chinese  Often referred to as China’s first modern story  Sympathetic to Communism  Did not join the Communist Party, but was highly regarded  Co-founded the “League of Left-Wing Writers”

Emperor Citizens Man Woman Elderly Youth Teacher Student Husband Wife Son Daughter 1st born 2nd born Second Son First Daughter Hierarchy

 The “madman” sees cannibalism all around him  Neighbors  Family  In the Confucian classics and other writings  “Eat People!”  Written as diary entries  Demonstrates increasing paranoia and fear

 The Narrator – receives the diaries  The Madman – authors the diaries  Neighbors  Old Zhao  Old Chen  Dr. He  The Young Man  Elder Brother

 Cannibalism’s connection to Confucianism  Chinese society being “eaten” by old traditions and customs  “Madman” sees the need for change  “Cured” - accepts a Civil Service position