Mao Dun And Naturalism

Based on the relationship between Mao Dun and naturalism this thesis explores the development of Chinese socialist realism theories. The frame of this thesis is as follows:The Preface( also Part One): Investigating the relationship between Mao Dun and naturalism. In terms of literary theory, Mao Dun's opinion on naturalism is according to the need of taking or giving up. His attitudes can be divided into six different stages. In terms of writing, the relation between Mao Dun and naturalism is delicate.Part Two: generalizing Mao Dun's miscellaneous and intensive literary theory. This part tries to explore the literary theories in essential position during different periods and the factors which can be absorbed by socialist realism. The author will elaborate the influence of French naturalism and Russia realism. Through the comparison between Zhou Yang and others' literary theory and that of Mao Dun, the author reaches the conclusion that Russian realism influences Mao Dun's literary theory only to a certain extent.Part Three: examining the trace of the naturalism in Mao Dun's literary theory and critical practice. Although Mao Dun didn't admit the influence of French naturalism since 1930s, we can find many similarities between zola and him in Mao Dun's literary theory and critical practice.Part Four: analyzing the slight difference between the essential socialist realism and the naturalism in Mao Dun's literary theory. This part points out this slight difference owing to the variation of Mao Dun's opinions, and investigates the reasons for the slight difference from the outside and inside aspects, and finally cares how this conflict can be solved.Conclusion: Calling for a more thorough research on Mao Dun's literary theory which is based on the naturalism and investigating the relationship of the naturalism and Chinese- socialist realism.