Dr. Wen

Lao SheFeb 2017

3.7

Word count: 63K words
Chapters: 18

Summary

"Dr. Wen" tells the story of Dr. Wen, a US-returned PhD who is an unlearned literary thug and political hack skilled in intrigue. Using his foreign PhD as a facade, he swindles and flatters the powerful, worming his way into the lucrative post of "commissioner." Though he loves money, he knows that to get it he must hold office, so his philosophy of life is the dual creed of "money first plus office first." With a mocking, razor-sharp pen, Lao She lashes the ugly specimens of the old Chinese "scholarly world."

Editor's review

"Dr. Wen" is Lao She's concentrated satire on the ugly types of the old Chinese "scholarly world." The protagonist, under the foreign facade of a US-returned PhD, is in fact unlearned, yet skilled at flattering the powerful and scheming for advantage. He makes "money first plus office first" his philosophy of life and finally obtains the lucrative post of "commissioner." Lao She's pen is mocking and sharp; he does not rely on exaggerated plot for laughs but lets the character expose himself through everyday details of socializing, job-seeking, and currying favor—both infuriating and ridiculous to read. The work's highlight is its measure in satire: it writes the rise of a literary thug and political hack, yet reflects the ecology of mutual exploitation between officialdom and the so-called "intellectual circles" of old China. For today's readers, its depiction of academic credentials, networks of connections, and the logic of fame and gain still has value for recognition. It is a suitable short entry point for understanding Lao She's satirical art and the social landscape of old China, and also suitable for comparative reading with "The Scholars."

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Lao She's satirical and humorous style
Those interested in fiction about old Chinese officialdom and intellectuals
Chinese literature students and modern and contemporary literature researchers
General readers who want to understand Republican-era society through fiction

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting positive inspirational figures and coming-of-age stories
Genre-fiction readers who prefer strong plot and fast pacing
Readers insensitive to satire and irony who may misread the characters' stances

Reading tips

First grasp the satirical tone; do not take Dr. Wen's words and deeds as the author's positive views.
Pay attention to dialogue in socializing and job-seeking scenes; the satirical effect often lies in the details.
Read alongside "The Scholars" or other satirical works by Lao She to compare satirical methods.
After reading, trace Dr. Wen's steps of scheming to see how he converts his facade into a position.

版权信息
序
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
十
十一
十二
十三
十四
十五
十六

FAQ

Is Dr. Wen a real person?

Dr. Wen is a fictional character in the novel, not a portrait of any specific real person. Lao She created him as a US-returned PhD turned literary thug and political hack to encapsulate a type in the old Chinese "scholarly world"—a clown skilled in intrigue and utterly unlearned—rather than to write the biography of an individual.

Where is the novel's satire mainly reflected?

The satire falls mainly on the character's self-packaging and daily scheming: Dr. Wen shows off his foreign facade, gains office by flattering the powerful, yet always masks his motives with respectable talk. Lao She mostly presents this through the character's own words and deeds and through contrasts in scenes, rarely judging directly; readers must sense it from context.

Is it long? Is it suitable as an introduction to Lao She?

This work is relatively short, with a concentrated thread and simple character relationships, making it suitable as an introductory read for understanding Lao She's satirical style. If you have already read works on ordinary city life such as "Camel Xiangzi," reading this book shows another side of Lao She's handling of intellectual and officialdom themes.

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About the author

Lao She Author · China · 1899–1966

Lao She, born Shu Qingchun with the courtesy name Sheyu, lived from 1899 to 1966. A Manchu from Beijing, he is a major modern Chinese writer. His writing long centered on urban life in Beijing and on ordinary people at the lower levels of society. His works are mostly social novels and folk literature, and he also wrote essays and miscellaneous prose. His style is plain yet marked by irony and compassion, and he was skilled at using colloquial Beijing-flavored language to portray characters and their fates. His representative works include Camel Xiangzi, Four Generations Under One Roof, and Teahouse, which have had wide influence. In 1951 he received the title "People's Artist." The library holds 488 of his works, commonly classified under social fiction, classics, folk literature, essays and miscellaneous writings, and exam books, showing that his writing continues to circulate among readers and in teaching.