The Fragrance Of Orchids--An Analysis Of Ling Shu-hua's Short Stories

In this thesis, I intend to analyze and interpret Ling Shu-hua' s short stories from a historical perspective. In my opinion, Ling* s childhood experiences, especially her training in the fine arts, have greatly influenced both the aesthetic preference and political stance of her short stories.In addition to emphasizing the impact of Ling' s Bildung on her writing, I would also like to take a feminist viewpoint in my analysis of the social significance of her short stories. Different from many famous writers of her generation, Ling does not focus on the struggle of revolutionary women in the turbulent Chinese society during the early nineteen twenties, but rather concentrates her attention on a group of well-educated yet poorly adjusted young ladies from the upper-class. By depicting the helplessness of these privileged women, Ling displays and criticizes the victimization of Chinese women by traditional gender politics. By revealing the complexity of female psychology, Ling Shu-hua is indeed a pioneer in search of an independent female literary voice.As a renowned painter, Ling also applies her artistic skills in the narrative of her short stories. By comparing her fine art works to her short stories, I conclude that among the May Fourth writers, Ling is uniquely aware of the visual aspects of her works. She is very conscious about creating memorable imageries and poignant moments; thus, her short stories are often simple but profound. Her artistry has certainly greatly contributed to the formation of modern Chinese short story canon.Gao Xiang-bing (Modern Chinese Literary) Directed by Wei Shao-hua...