Metamorphosis

Lao SheJun 2020

3.8

Word count: 64K words
Chapters: 15

Summary

"Metamorphosis" is Lao She's first unfinished novel, with only ninety thousand characters written. It reflects the angry sentiments of people from all walks of life in the resistance against Japan and the struggle for national salvation. In the behavior and spiritual characteristics of his countrymen, Lao She first noticed a decline and shrinking of vitality: a lack of strong volitional impulse and the outward action that follows from it, and an absence of life force and striving spirit. This is the problem raised in the novel "Metamorphosis," which then gives rise to the climax of the story.

Editor's review

"Metamorphosis" is an unfinished novel by Lao She with only ninety thousand characters written, focusing on the angry sentiments of people from all walks of life in the resistance against Japan and the struggle for national salvation. Its value lies not in a complete resolution of the story but in Lao She's observations of the behavior and spiritual characteristics of his countrymen: the decline and shrinking of vitality, the lack of strong volitional impulse and outward action, and the absence of life force and striving spirit. These judgments form the novel's problematic consciousness and also drive the story toward its climax. Reading this fragment is more like entering an unfinished scene of thought, where one can see how the writer transformed social observation into characters and plot. For readers studying the development of Lao She's writing or interested in literary expression during the War of Resistance, it has special documentary and reading value. While reading, one may accept "unfinished" as a textual characteristic and pay attention to the tension between the characters' spiritual state and the atmosphere of the times.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary readers studying the development of Lao She's writing and his unfinished works
Readers interested in literature of the War of Resistance and the spiritual condition of the people
Those who like reading with a sense of inquiry and can accept a fragmentary text
Students interested in themes of vitality and will in modern fiction

Not a good fit for

Ordinary fiction readers who expect a complete story structure and a clear ending
Those who prefer light, entertaining reading and do not want to face heavy historical themes

Reading tips

Read the preface or afterword first to understand the background of the work's being unfinished, then enter the main text.
While reading, mark Lao She's descriptions of characters' will and actions, and sort out his problematic consciousness.
After finishing, compare with other literary works of the War of Resistance period to see different approaches to spiritual mobilization.

版权信息
解题
第一
第二
第三
第四
第五
第六
第七
第八
第九
第十
第十一
第十二
第十三

FAQ

Why is "Metamorphosis" an unfinished novel?

Sources indicate that only ninety thousand characters of this work were written, making it Lao She's first unfinished novel. Readers therefore will not get a fully resolved story; it is better treated as a scene of thought, focusing on the anti-Japanese and national-salvation sentiments of people from all walks of life and on Lao She's observations of the spiritual characteristics of his countrymen.

What issues does this novel mainly focus on?

It first notices the decline and shrinking of the people's vitality, the lack of strong volitional impulse and the outward action that follows from it, and the absence of life force and striving spirit. The novel develops its characters and plot around these issues and drives them toward the story's climax. While reading, note how these judgments are embodied in specific characters.

Does reading a fragment affect understanding?

It does have an effect, but it does not prevent grasping the work's core problematic consciousness. It is best to accept the fact that it is unfinished and focus on Lao She's descriptions of anti-Japanese and national-salvation sentiments among all walks of life and his observations of the behavior and spiritual characteristics of his countrymen, rather than asking whether the ending is satisfying.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

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.