Study Of Zhang Xianliang’s Writing Mentality

Zhang Xianliang was undoubtedly one of the most controversial writers in Chinese "new period" literature history. His self-analysis type of writing was toned by many critics as "history of the soul". However, the name itself contains quite complex meanings. The variable readings of Zhang Xianliang and his works lie in the numerous contradictions within the text.On the basis of intensive reading of the text as well as comprehensive reference for studies of Zhang Xianliang for30years, taking the mental contradictions as the starting point and the foothold, the author gives the writing mentality of Zhang Xianliang a further research. With such three keywords as "self,"political discourse" and "status", the author analyses the knots and crux in Zhang Xianliang’s writing mentality on a high level, and puts forward suggestions on the writer’s outlet. Starting with the self-awareness of Zhang Xianliang, the author attests that concept of binary opposition of spirit and flesh body led to a split in the writer’s self-awareness, which was intensified by the unrealistic maternal ideal. As a result, his self-analysis writing was led to a sex ritual with no hope nor creation. As a result of the motive of psychological compensation and an abnormal version of history, the political complaints of Zhang Xianliang, which seem angry, were actually driven by a motive of self-justification. The political discourse disciplined individual discourse of Zhang Xianliang’s heroes, even became necessities. Besides, utilized by male chauvinism, the political discourse became a tool to discipline feminine discourse and to deny female-self.Social status became the base of relationship between man and woman in Zhang Xianliang’s writing."Spirit and Flesh" revealed Zhang Xianliang’s motive of psychological compensation given rise by the "bad blood" and his father’s tragedy of status. In "the Green Tree", under the cover of "love" theme, the writer actually shows Zhang Yonglin’s pursuit from laborer identity to intellectual "memory". While in "Half of Man Is Woman", under the slogan of "self beyond", Zhang Yonglin concealed the essential betrayal of woman and the establishment of status worship. Impulsed by compensating for delayed personal value and desire, Zhang Xianliang devoted himself into political and economic activities. As a result, the appeal for social status reflected in his works. The intellectuals in Zhang Xianliang’s novels finally reach a conspiracy with political, and become a status shell without its rational sprit. Since1990, Zhang Xianliang turned to boost economic status which is outstanding in the novel "One Hundred and Sixty Million"(Yi Yilu). Behind the ambiguous theme and wandering perspectives, it is obvious in this novel that economic status has colonized the nature and humanity. It indicates the collapse of independent personality and rational value in Zhang Xianliang’s writing.