Ba Jin's Novel Characters

This dissertation aims to restudy how Ba Jin's characters are molded in his novels.There are four main types of personalities portrayed.The first type are strong characters,as seen from novels like Love Trilogy and Destruction. Personalities like Du Daxin were as crude and rash as torrential rain;those like Zhou Rushui were as confused and hazy as foggy nights.Others,like Peizhu, were as magnificent as lightning.The second type are those featured in The Torrent Trilogy.These characters grew up in the transition period from the old to the new era.Characters like cousin Mei inherited too much feudal tradition and can only quietly wither away.On the other hand,characters like Juehui, Shusheng and Mingfeng,were brave and rebellious.There are also characters like Juexin who suffered deeply because of his dual personality during that transition period.The third kind who sacrificed themselves for their faith is featured in Fire and Snow.Zhao in Snow,sowed the seed of fire in the dark;others like Wehshu, Wangdong,Liubo in Fire sacrificed in the flames of war against aggression.Tian Huishi contributed quietly as an educator and editor,like a few other characters as well.In World Trilogies,Ba Jin portrayed the fourth kind of people who have no choice but to compromise.They are Yang Laosan,Zhu Yunbiao,Yang Muhua, Zeng Shusheng and Wang Wenxuan.While some of these characters were ruined by the harmful tradition of the feudal society,the others struggled to survive in the adverse environment.Not only is Ba Jin's portrayal of anarchism and its followers in his novels unique,Juexin's double nature(from The Torrent Trilogies) is also a first in the modern history of Chinese literature.Ba Jin's contribution to the modern history of Chinese literature is highlighted in this paper.His portrayal of anarchism,the patriotism of the Chinese displayed in times of war,and on how ordinary people coped with the transition from the old to the new society,show Ba Jin is someone who truly cares about the fate of his nation.From Qu Yuan,to the May Fourth Movement realists,to the young intellects of today,the patriotism and spirit of the Chinese people are,and will continue to be,thriving from generation to generation.