Lingering Fog
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Summary
Lao She's four-act play Withered Mist is drawn from the social reality of Chongqing. In the play, Director Xi loudly proclaims resistance to the Japanese while posturing as a man of high morals, yet he is simultaneously greedy for money, lustful, and manipulative of power. He not only abuses his authority to toy with women but also colludes with traitors, stealing intelligence for them; later, when the scheme fails and he is captured, he finds himself imprisoned. Forced to give up the female traitor, he finds that this remarkably resourceful woman has brazenly gone to dine at the home of a senior government official... Lao She's comedy aims to sweep away the "withered mist" shrouding the wartime situation, directing the edge of satire straight at the corrupt ruling class. The characters are sharply drawn, and the language is vivid and witty.
Editor's review
Withered Mist is one of the most sharply satirical works among Lao She's four-act plays. Drawing on the social reality of Chongqing during the War of Resistance, it reveals the various disorders beneath the wartime situation through the figure of Director Xi, who combines loud declarations of resistance with greed and lust. The title itself implies sweeping away the mist and facing the truth directly, with the edge of satire aimed squarely at corrupt rule. In this play Lao She fully displays his comic talent: the characters are sharply drawn, the dialogue is vivid and witty, and satire and humor interweave, making it both amusing and thought-provoking. Compared with some of Lao She's more celebratory plays, this work's satirical technique is sharper and better demonstrates his linguistic skill as a dramatist. Suitable for readers interested in satirical comedy, literary writing about wartime society, and Lao She's art of spoken drama.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who love satirical comedy and appreciate sharp, pungent humor
- Scholars and students studying the social reality and literary writing of the War of Resistance period
- Readers who wish to understand the satirical art in Lao She's plays
- Theater enthusiasts interested in satirical works in the history of modern Chinese spoken drama
Not a good fit for
- Readers who prefer positive, inspirational themes and dislike satirical or critical works
- General audiences expecting a complete stage performance rather than reading a script
- Readers with little interest in officialdom and traitor themes of the Republican era
Reading tips
- While reading, note the contradictions between Director Xi's words and deeds, and appreciate how Lao She achieves satire through contrast
- Read alongside background materials on Chongqing society during the War of Resistance to understand the real-life basis of the play's material
- Pay attention to the setup and fates of the female characters, and reflect on the social critique embedded in Lao She's satire
- After reading, try mapping the character relationships to grasp the dramatic conflicts woven among multiple figures
Contents
- 版权信息
- 第一幕
- 第二幕
- 第三幕
- 第四幕
FAQ
What does the satire in Withered Mist mainly target?
The play mainly satirizes the corrupt phenomenon during the War of Resistance in which some officials were sanctimonious, greedy and lustful, and even colluded with traitors. Through the figure of Director Xi, Lao She exposes the ugly conduct of those who loudly proclaim resistance while acting despicably; and through the ending in which the female traitor calmly attends a banquet, he further satirizes the corruption and absurdity of the ruling class. The satirical edge is clear and sharp.
What are the features of the play's language style?
Lao She maintains vivid, lively colloquial dialogue in the play; the characters' language fits their status and personality, witty yet sharp. The satirical effect is mostly conveyed naturally through characters' self-contradictory words and deeds rather than direct preaching, so reading it offers both the lightness of comedy and the force of critique, demonstrating Lao She's superb command of dramatic language.
Do I need to read other works by Lao She before reading Withered Mist?
Not necessarily. The play can be read independently, with a complete story and clear characters. If you wish to understand Lao She's playwriting more deeply, you can extend your reading afterward to contemporaneous plays such as Spring Blossoms and Autumn Fruit and compare the differences between their satirical techniques and positive writing; the reward will be greater.
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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.
