The Poetry of Lu Xun-An Evaluation
The Poetry of Lu Xun-An Evaluation
The Poetry of Lu Xun-An Evaluation
Lu Xun (1881-1936) was a Chinese revolutionary, thinker and writer. He took an active part, in his early days, in the democratic revolution of 1911, which overthrew the Qing Dynasty, ending over two thousand years of imperial rule in China. As a result of this revolution, the monarchy came to an end and democracy was established. But though democracy was established, yet China remained far away from the modern outlook in the socio-economic policy. Along with it, China remained a semi-feudal and semi-colonial country. Though China turned to a democratic country through the Revolution of 1911, yet with the establishment of democracy, another inter-revolution began in favour of communism and socialism. Under Mao Tse Tung’s leadership, the communist moment broke out in China. Lu Xun became an eager and warm supporter of this new communist moment and took his pen as a weapon in this struggle and became a writer. As a writer, he became a short story-teller, essayist and poet. All his writings are replete with revolutionary ideals. First, he achieved glory as a story-teller and essayist. But sometimes he wrote poems after the request of his friends. His poems are few in number nearly seventy poems have been in existence. He wrote poems on the realistic theme in both old and new styles, using rhyme and prosody. The language of his poems is very simple and easily comprehensible. As he wrote as a weapon of revolution, so are his poems. The themes of his poems are single—love to his motherland and in doing so he portrays his love for nature, and love for men but whatsoever he wrote or what his themes were he displayed the high ideals of a great revolution. He used common symbols to symbolize the old and new. Many of his poems are elegiac in tone and tenets.
Though he portrays Nature in his poems, yet they are not romantic. He only creates an atmosphere by portraying his revolutionary ideals. He writes:
”Under a high and southern sky the leaves fall by the lake;
Eye-brow colour and rouge now stain the warriors’ robes
The wanderer by the water’s edge may no longer chant his songs.
Amid the endless autumn waves, the Elegy is lost.”
Sometimes the objects of Nature are portrayed vividly, but this portrayal bears a revolutionary motive as he says that the sweet-smelling of the plant is for the joy of the revolutionaries. He says:
”The orchid still shows its pureness of heart on a well-hidden crag
And yet we must spare this sweet-smelling plant for the travelling stranger.”
Nature becomes the symbol of revolution: both of the anti-revolutionary authorities and of the revolutionary leaders. He says:
”Thorns cover the plain,
War-clouds fill the skies.
Few enjoy the tender spring
And many a voice is silent
Drunken tyranny rules the world
And some men change their tune
After the havoc of storm
Trees and flowers are bare.”
Through the quoted lines, the poet shows that democracy was established in China after 1911. Yet the aims and policy of administration remained old. In the real sense, democracy was not established in the socio-economic condition of China. So being disgusted at the old tyrannical ruling system, many took the side of Mao Tse Tung and rendered their support to his revolution for a communist and socialist china.
The poet glorifies the brave generals of the communist movement in China after democracy was established. He, glorifying so, encourages the revolution as:
”The land of Yu has many a flying general:
Survivors shelter in their wretched huts.
When pools reflect our visitors at night,
We toast our goodly rulers in plain water.”
During the struggle period in favour of Communism and Socialism in China, many revolutionaries were killed by the ruling leaders. Some had been exiled, but the poet hoped that the leaders in exile would spread the movement in time and thus saying so he encouraged the revolutionary soldiers.
”But all, in the end, was smothered by wormwood
Only the exile can now spread fragrance.”
The poet is optimistic that the struggle for communist, socialist China must be a success and the hour is drawing near. He shows it by a symbol of cock,
”The cock-crow at midnight makes me more lonely;
I rise and see the plough point to dawn.”
The poet is determined to save his motherland and has gone to a unanimous union with others to meet their goals. He says:
”As all of us agree to save the nation,
Surely we should not tear the show apart
……………………………………….
Don’t make the comrades all feel sick at heart.”
Thus almost all his poems bear only one goal, directly or indirectly, that is to make or encourage or to add spirit to the heart of the revolutionaries so that a communist, socialist modern China might be built erelong.
His many poems are elegiac. He mourns for these fighters who are killed by the ruling authorities. In mourning for the killed the poet draws the attention of the fighters and adds spirit to the morale of the revolutionary soldiers.
”Now that we both are torn apart forever.
Never will I hear you talk again.
When old friends disappear like clouds
I too am no more than dust.”
The poetry of Lu Xun is generally short like lyrics conveying only one idea. Poetically his poems are weak like that of Mao Tse Tung’s. While poetry becomes a medium of propaganda then the beauty of art in it deteriorates and so is visible in Lu Xun’s poetry. But Lu Xun’s poems are superior to that of Mao Tse Tung. 0 0 0
The Poetry of Lu Xun-An Evaluation’ –An Analytical Study
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N. B. This article entitled ‘The Poetry of Lu Xun-An Evaluation’ –An Analytical Study’ originally belongs to the book ‘World Poetry Criticism‘ by Menonim Menonimus. The Poetry of Lu Xun-An Evaluation’ –An Analytical Study
Books of Literary Criticism by M. Menonimus:
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- World Poetry Criticism
- World Drama Criticism
- World Novel Criticism
- World Essay Criticism
- Indian English Poetry Criticism
- Indian English Poets and Poetry Chief Features
- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Walt Whitman’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Critical Essays on English Poetry
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: Return of the Spirit-An Analytical Study
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: ‘Yawmiyyat Naib Fil Arayaf’-An Analytical Study
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