Malraux: An Explorer In The Conflict And The Exchange Of The East And The West Cultures

The subject of this dissertation is Andre Malraux (1901-1976), a renowned French man of letters and political figure in the 20^th century. The author of this dissertation tries to investigate the French writer, Andre Malraux, who bears direct relation with both China and Asia against the background of the cultural clash between the East and the West. The two major reasons for this subject choice are the following:1. Malraux's relationship with China and Asia. Though a typical western intellectual, Malraux was profoundly influenced by eastern thoughts. He acquainted himself with the East in a particular historical period, and seeing the cruelty of this historical time, he turned from a pure adventurer into a thinker keen on human destiny. The East opened for him a whole new outlook, which nurtured his way of comparison and yardstick to maintain cultural diversity of humankind. "Asian Trilogy", which has contained the the element of "direct relation" with Asia, emphasized by comparative literature study, won him a success in literature and a place among classic French writers in the 20th century. And the influence on him by Asia is a question worth exploring and discussing in the studies of his works, artistic thoughts and activity in politics.2. A life of mystery. Malraux led a remarkably adventurous life in the 20thcentury. He was regarded a leader and helper in Chinese revolution, supporter of Stalin, 'left-wing' writer and anti-fascist fighter; but later condemned as a traitor and adherent of de Gaulle... contradictory titles and criticism veiled him with mystery. Then what kind of man is he? As the French literature furthers the study on him and publication of various biographies, some facts become clear and researchers reach consensus of opinion. Whereas Malraux confused his works with his life, part and parcel in the research and study is to reinterpret and unveil the mystery about him. Further, the enrichment in the means of literature criticism and broad application of cross-disciplinary methodology in comparative literature enable us to reconsider truthfully and precisely such a man of letters and political figure who profoundly impacted French youth, sympathized with and helped Chinese revolution from a new perspective.Innovations:1. The world literature study in China has no complete and systematic investigation on Malraux. The available results limit the scope on analysis of specific pieces of works. Provided that Malraux indeed confuses writing with action, dream with reality as mentioned by the consensus, no researches on one aspect could catch? his thoughts completely and precisely. Starting from his works and relation to China and Asia, the author of this dissertation attempts to integrate his complex experience with writing and emphasize on the influence by Asia and re-understand Malraux. The dissertation serves to fill the blank in the study on Malraux in China.2. Studies on Malraux in other countries, especially in France, are fruitful and abundant. Researchers often limit on investigations of texts and history debates, concerning Malraux's relation to China and Asia, however, they often treat it as background and historical documents. The dissertation hereby treats how Asia influences Malraux as the subject and through interpretation of texts, mainly focused on how Malraux himself represents clash between two fundamentally different cultures and his attitude. Breaking away from customary disputes about his life. We bases on general consensus, clues on Malraux's thoughts againstcross-cultural impact and constructively works on his thoughts, action and works from a whole new outlook, which is an experiment as well as innovation. 3, In the earlier research, the author has translated La tentation de I'Occident and published relevant academic papers, which filled a blank in Chinese translation of Malraux's works. The translation work not only deepens the author's understanding and research, but also provides first-hand materials for this dissertation.During his lifetime, Malraux seeks for means to withstand 'absurd life', taking on diverse roles to adventure in diverse fields; such 'aberrance' consists with his inner dream. For him, life is an adventure, which is the clue of this paper. The author explores many levels of the word 'adventure', including life path, early adventure in Asia and Asian influence on him, writing career, political activity, and artistic exploration. On the one hand, the author focuses on how Asia had affected Malraux' cross-cultural outlook and how he became a thinker in the cultural clash; on the other hand, breaking away from 'what', for instance, about how authentically Malraux wrote about Chinese revolution, the author emphasizes on 'why', about his action and purpose in writing, and finally, the author examines how Malraux and his works diffusev affect and are received in China, analyzing the expected field of vision of receiving screen condition and percolate in literature.This paper discusses from an individual case the literary dialogue, philosophic thoughts and communication forms between heterogeneous cultures against the background of conflict and exchange between the East and the West in the 20th century. In the meantime, particularity and variability within Malraux provide source of diversity for both literature criticism and biographic narration and multiple aspects in outlook for people.