Luxun And The Left-wing Literature From The Perspective Of Enlightenment

In the process of modernization of Chinese literature, the literature is closely related to enlightenment. Enlightenment is not only the power to give birth to modern Chinese literature, also becomes a major theme of the new literature. In his literary practice, Lu Xun had adhered to the utilitarian view of Enlightenmentalism for literature. His Enlightenmental thought consists of the idea of "establishing man" and the negative form of enlightenment. Lu Xun used literature as a weapon to assail and criticize the feudal system, ethics and the traditional ideology and culture profoundly. What he wanted to do is to liberate people from ignorance, barbarism and slavery mentality, making people be aware that he is his own master and he is "real people" and a free man. In the late 1920's, under the politicized historical background, Lu Xun's literary thought absorbed the idea of class-liberation in new era into his own concept of Enlightenment, which finally put him into the Left-wing Literary Movement. Lu Xun's support and affirmation for Left-wing Literature contributed to its development and prosperity. In addition, his reflections and criticism of all kinds of wrong tendencies and practices in the Left-wing Literature promoted the Left-wing Literature to develop towards a solid and healthy direction. This article, from a perspective of Enlightenment, analyzed the enlightenmental idea in Lu Xun's works, discussed the enlightenmental tradition and discourse in Left-wing Literature as well as the relationship between Lu Xun and the Left-wing Literature. Eventually I draw a conclusion that the Left-wing Literature as China's most important literary and the Left-wing Literary Movements in 1930's had come to the end, but Lu Xun's literary significance and his major spiritual tradition of enlightenment will be carried forward and developed further.