Regret for the Past
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Summary
Shangshi (Regret for the Past) tells of Juansheng and Zijun's pursuit of freedom in love and marriage; the pursuit initially succeeded but ultimately failed, and the fundamental cause was social persecution. Yet the emphasis of Shangshi is not on showing how society persecuted Juansheng and Zijun but on showing how they faced the persecution society imposed on them. It takes Juansheng and Zijun themselves as the direct objects of analysis and dissection.
Editor's review
Shangshi is Lu Xun's only fiction on the theme of young love; its value lies not in telling a love tragedy but in turning the scalpel on the pursuers themselves. Juansheng and Zijun's struggle for marital autonomy succeeds for a time, yet under social pressure and the daily struggle to make a living it breaks down; the work focuses on how the two face persecution and how weakness, selfishness, and estrangement are exposed. Lu Xun narrates in first-person notebook form, with a cold, restrained language; Juansheng's self-defense and confession intertwine, leaving many gaps open to questioning. Short yet dense with meaning, it is best read in the context of the May Fourth New Culture Movement, and can be read alongside 'What Happens After Nora Leaves Home' to understand the relation between economic power and women's liberation. While reading, note whether the narrator is reliable and why Zijun's voice is absent—these are precisely the enduring entry points for discussion.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Students and researchers of modern literature who need close reading of Lu Xun's narrative technique
- Readers concerned with marriage, love, and women's issues in the May Fourth period
- Fiction lovers seeking an entry into Lu Xun's thought through a short story
- Secondary-school Chinese teachers preparing lessons and supplementary reading
Not a good fit for
- Casual readers expecting light, romantic love stories
- Readers who prefer plot twists and happy endings
- Readers impatient with first-person inner-monologue narration
Reading tips
- Read through once to grasp the plot, then reread Juansheng's account to discern where he defends himself and shifts blame.
- Read alongside 'What Happens After Nora Leaves Home' to reflect on the significance of economic independence for freedom in love and marriage.
- Note the scarcity and silence of Zijun's speech, and try retelling the relationship from her perspective.
- After reading, write down your judgment of the narrator's reliability, then consult relevant criticism for comparison.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 伤逝
- 正文一
- 正文二
- 正文三
- 正文四
- 正文五
FAQ
Why do Juansheng and Zijun in Shangshi end up separating?
The story does not simply attribute the separation to any one person. Juansheng and Zijun pursue freedom in love and marriage and initially succeed, but social persecution persists, and the two face it in different ways. What Lu Xun focuses on analyzing and dissecting is precisely how Juansheng and Zijun themselves respond to the pressure society imposes, so the separation results from both social persecution and personal ways of responding.
What is noteworthy about the narrative perspective of this story?
Shangshi unfolds as Juansheng's notebook, so what readers see is Juansheng's retrospective account and self-examination. This perspective makes Juansheng's feelings and judgments the center of the narrative; readers need to note whether his account is fully reliable and what position Zijun occupies in the narration, thereby understanding Lu Xun's method of dissecting his characters.
Is the focus of Lu Xun's Shangshi social criticism or character psychology?
Social persecution is the fundamental background of the story, but the emphasis of the work is not on detailing how society persecutes Juansheng and Zijun but on showing how the two face such persecution. Lu Xun takes Juansheng and Zijun as the direct objects of analysis and dissection, so readers should see both the social environment and the characters' own psychology and choices.
What should one pay attention to on a first reading of Shangshi?
You can note three things: first, the narrative mode of Juansheng's notebook and its limitations; second, the process by which Zijun moves from pursuing freedom to falling into difficulty; third, the two characters' different reactions when facing social pressure. Grasping these three points helps understand why the story places its emphasis on the characters' self-dissection rather than merely telling a story of failed love.
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About the author
Lu Xun
Author · China · 1881–1936
Lu Xun, originally named Zhou Shuren and styled Yucai, was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang, and a leading modern Chinese writer and thinker as well as a representative figure of the New Culture Movement. With works such as "A Madman's Diary" and "The True Story of Ah Q," he laid the foundation of modern Chinese fiction. His writing often focuses on the spiritual condition of ordinary people and on social reality, in a cold, concise style rich in critique and self-reflection. His story collections "Call to Arms" and "Wandering" and his prose collection "Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk" are widely read, and his works are often classified as classics, social fiction, and documentary literature. The library holds as many as 499 editions of his works, showing that they continue to be read, anthologized, and circulated. Public information is limited, so this is only a brief account of his life's key points and creative character.
