Mao Zonggang's Theory Of Tragic Consciousness In His Critical Comments Of Romantic Of Three Kingdoms

The first part of this paper gives a comparison of these three definitions: tragic, tragicalness and tragical consciousness. Meanwhile, it also gives a comparison of different features of tragical consciousness in western culture and traditional Chinese culture. This kind of comparison makes different definitions precise and clear. It also builds a large frame for further and deeper study.The second part is the specific feature of Mao Zonggang's tragical consciousness. On one hand, he pursues rigidly the traditional Chinese value system, which leads to his tragic the same as people mentioned in the first part, who live under the circumstance of rigid Chinese culture and value circle. Besides, the period Mao Zonggang lives in has actually offered him the possibility to get out of the culture and value trap, such as the economic raising up and the activeness of publishing. However, he refuses all of these brand new elements and goes back without any hesitation, to the former road which leads directly to his tragedy.On the other hand, the end of Ming Dynasty and Qing's invasion wakes him up and makes a situation clear to him: the social circumstance which Mao Zonggang pursues has been trapped in the old times, the new generation is completely different from his longing and expecting. Based on this, he tragical consciousness has the clear feature of Emptiness, as well as his longing for escaping, from the society and all the people, just living by himself.Even though, Emptiness isn't the final end of his consciousness. This is what the third part wants to make clear: the inner structure of Mao Zonggang's tragical consciousness. His consciousness possesses two elements at the same time: the longing for rigid social system and the escaping hope from the real society.