A New Criticism Study on The Vagrants

Abstract:This paper, with the theory of new criticism, especially the tension theory, as the theoretical guidance, is intended to explore the theme of Yiyun Li’s well-known novel The vagrants, analyzing the frailty and numbness of Chinese populace, or spiritual vagrants under the shadow of culture revolution which has been over as well as their courage and conscience, exposing human’s courage will finally conquers their frailty.

Key Words:New Criticism, tension, frailty, courage

This novel was set on March 21st of 1979, three years past 1976 the end of Cultural Revolution in China. Instead of portraying novel amid the historical context of Cultural Revolution, the author snatches the material after culture revolution, so as to guide readers’ eyeball towards human’s numbness, weakness, and the opposite personality, courage. In detail, this novel moves forward under the fostering power of inner conflict of characters. Hence, this paper will apply New Criticism’s tension theory to analyze the paradox between counter revolution and revolution supporting or actually between human’s courage and frailty. Furthermore, in order to achieve the theme of this novel through the tension theory, I will specifically analyze the novel from two perspectives, one character, the other setting.

At first, Kai is numb, enjoying her identity as a famous announcer of the town along the Muddy River, and working as a tool for the corruptive government, represented by his husband family and town mayor. We can identify this point with the following sentences “Sometimes the echo of her voice came back with a life of its own, vibrant with energy, and Kai knew that she was being watched with admiration(Yiyun Li 2009:69)”.

Later, she wakened and slightly felt her own ignorance. After she went back from her maternal leave again onstage, she lost control of her voice. On one National Day, she choked her voice, with tears trickling down her face. Besides, an immense desolation engulfed her onstage. We can see that she is in struggle, penitent for her previous naivety. However, she is still in hesitation, with the consideration of her family, especially her new-born son Ming-Ming. “She had, earlier that morning, kissed Ming-Ming with a burst of passion that had surprised the Nanny (Yiyun Li 2009:70)”. Here the tension of this novel is well displayed. Kai contemplated between her present situation as an excellent announcer, a responsible mother, an eligible wife and a Gu Shan’s supporter. With the denunciation ceremony approaching, she dropped herself in baffled condition. But subsequently she was resolute to leave her family to support Gu Shan, which is fully illustrated in the below sentences “Ming-Ming probed Kai’s face with his plump and soft fingers, unconscious of his mother’s love or of her resolution to depart from the world fenced in by that love(Yiyun Li 2009:71)”.

However, she still appeared in the denunciation ceremony, a big struggle here exposed to us. In another word, the tension here is vehemently strengthened. Nevertheless, a subtle change in Kai’s inner mental movement floated on the surface.

During the announcement of the denunciation ceremony, “her voice was muffled, as if she had caught a cold, and from the front row where Tong sat, he could see her knitted eyebrows (Yiyun Li 2009:88)”. It implies that she feels disconcerted, scared or unable to afford to face herself in her stupid and cruel behavior any longer.

At this turning point, she made up her mind to take practical measures. On one hand, she met Jialin, another Gu Shan’s supporter, with whom she schemed relative plans to scrub away Gu Shan’s injustice. On anther hand, she visited Gu Shan’s family, persuading them to support and believe in their daughter as a martyr. After a series of significant steps, a ceremony with its aim to correct the mistaken killing of Gu Shan took place in the morning. We can see that Kai has enhanced her courage to confess the truth, neglecting the risk of her brave behavior. We knew she was imprisoned and dead finally when the decayed forces again set foot on the stage. During the battle between human’s frailty and courage, obliviously human’s courage wins. As one of the most significant literature analyzing methods, besides the character and setting analysis, other aspects of the formal elements of tension in New Criticism theory can also be applied to evaluating this novel. I believe sooner or later this novel will be dissected perfectly.

Bibliography:

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