Kafka And Chinese Novels In The Later 20th Century

Kafka was thought to be the origin of Western Modernism Literature, with whom many trends of literature claim ties of blood, Existentialism, Surrealism, Magical Realism, Theater of Absurdity, and French New Novel are some among them. Undoubtedly, Chinese novelists in the later 20th Century who were enlightened and nurtured by Western Modernism Literature in a direct or indirect way may be benefited from the literature heredity Kafka has left. However, what we are aiming to make certain in this dissertation is not merely the obvious influence fact, and in what a degree that Kafka's heredity has been discovered would be a more significant and fruitful seeking.The approach of intermediaries and influence study,completed with parallel approach in comparative literature is adopted here to confirm a fact that Kafka has imposed a great influence on Chinese novels in the later 20th Century, with a special focus on the relationship between Kafka and Chinese Avant-garde Novelists in a broad sense.This dissertation consists of five chapters.The introduction part, with"paradox"as a key-note, intends to introduce the philosophical thinking and aestheticism of Kafka in general. The influence relationship between Kafka and Chinese novels in the later 20th Century is also summed up here to make sure the practicability and significance of this study.In the first chapter, a general situation of the translation and reception of Kafka research in China after 1980's is presented to trace a developing trend. Three stages with distinct features are listed, and a tentative discussion on the future of Kafka Research in China is also made here. In terms of influence approach, 4 chapters are dedicated to discuss the profound influence of Kafka on Chinese novels in the later 20th Century in different perspectives.Chapter two, coming to this point from the perspective of narrative techniques, singles out"the strength of lightness"and"the virtual and the actual"as research themes to discuss Kafka's unparalleled artistic talents and his enlightenments on Chinese writers.Chapter three is focused on Kafka's notion of reality:"reality of illusion"and"reality of psychology". Kafka holds a belief that the world we experience, and the life we live are actually made from the thoughts we project. The incompatible relationship of inner and outer world also tortures the sense of Chinese novelists in the later 20th Century, who are struggling to return to their inner world and spiritual reality.Chapter four, together with chapter five, discusses the reciprocal cognition and reciprocal confirmation of Kafka and Chinese novelists in the later 20th Century in their philosophical seeking and existential perception."Sense of absurdity","sense of solitude","sense of fear"and"sense of shame"are put forward to reveal that Kafka's perpetual creative vitality lies in his somber awareness of the...