The revolutionary spirit in the literary works of Guo Moruo : a textual analysis of its origin and development in modern China

Abstract

This research examines the revolutionary spirit in the literary works of Guo Moruo from two different points of his life. Each of these literary works is analysed in the historical context in which it was written. The first part consists of a study on Guo Moruo’s ‘The Goddesses’, written during the beginning of the Literary Revolution and the birth of the Modern Chinese Republic. These literary works, written during Guo Moruo’s time in Japan as a student, represent the spirit of the Modern Chinese era and of the restlessness of the young revolutionary. In contrast, the literary works written during the later stages of his life reflect a different mood, once again shaped by the zeitgeist of the modern era. The literary works analysed as part of the works written later in his life were written during the end of the Chinese Republic and towards the founding of the Communist People’s Republic. Following Chairman Mao’s Talks at Yan’An, the literary trend shifted into that of political subservience. This brought about the end of the period of the Literary Revolution and the beginning of the period of Revolutionary Literature. This research aims to highlight the distinct features which make up Guo Moruo’s revolutionary spirit and how it evolved in parallel with Chinese society in these two distinct periods of Modern Chinese history.