The Tragic Characteristics In Li Zicheng

The historical novel Li Zicheng is an influential modern tragedy, famous for the concerning of his age. It has a complete system, which consists of many tragic parts. Based on theory of tragedy, this paper analyzes the characteristics of this tragedy and illustrates the diversity and complexity of the tragic conflicts.Li Zicheng embodies the great historical idea in tragic aesthetics including exploring the tragic cause viewed from the social development and analyzing a tragic case in a specific age.It shows the tragedy of Li Zicheng and Chongzheng is that of social development age.Li Zicheng reveals inevitability principle of the tragedy. Negation and destroy are the target for either side of the contradiction. The conflicts, between Li Zicheng and Chongzhen or Qing Dynasty, results in perishing of both sides. This implies the tragic dynamism and historical inevitability.The tragic characters represented by Li Zicheng and Chongzhen, demonstrates the tragic sublime. Both of them are confronted with tribulation and destroy, but cherish strong spirits of striving. Throughout the novel, Li Zicheng is threatened by the danger and failure, but he never gives up. In the plight, inward and outward, Chongzhen fights persistently.This works shows tragic systematic and quintessence. It manifests the paradox between tragic motive and result. The tragic subjects are always put in dilemma; because any choice will cause the absolute destroy.This paper discusses the historical idea, tragic inevitability, tragic spirits, tragic systematic and tragic quintessence in Li Zicheng, so that we can have overall understanding the aesthetic characteristics and value of this mover.