The Motif Research Of Chili’s Novels

Chi Li is a representative writer of “new realistic” novels in the middle and latterhalf of the1980s. Her most renowned and successful works are those that showthe daily secular life of the ordinary people. Chi Li avoids saying lofty words, talkingimpractical ideals or moaning and groaning without being ill, but focuses on the upsand downs of ordinary people, describes the actual living state of real life, thusforming its own unique writing style. Her novels are warmly welcomed by readersand attract extensive attention from critics. Based on the previous studies, this thesistries to unscramble roundly the Chi Li’s novels from the angle of motif.Various motifs can be found in Chi Li’s description of small household affairsand “bread and butter” issues. For example, ordinary citizen’s daily life motif, thewomen growth motif, marriage motif, search motif, and so on. Chi Li gives up thegrand narrative, creates a series of popular novels and a group of refreshing pettybourgeois images by standing in the position of citizens, which presents a vividpicture of secular life before all the readers.