On The Spiritual Dilemma Of Intellectuals In Li Er’s Novels

Li Er is a writer of great pioneering spirit and innovative courage in the contemporary literary world,showing a rare and unremitting spirit of exploration in both the subject matter and artistic forms of his novels.While other writers are still pursuing pioneering forms and presenting "historical decadence," Li Er has opened up his "narrative space about intellectuals";in his intellectual narrative space,revealing the spiritual plight of intellectuals is his major theme;along with Along with the profound political,cultural and economic changes in contemporary China,the intellectuals in Li Er’s novels are also struggling in confusion and compromise in the midst of their spiritual despair.This dissertation,based on a close reading of Li Er’s novels,composes the textual presentation of the intellectuals’ spiritual dilemmas,analyzes the unique expressions and limits used in the process,and then inquires into the crux of the intellectuals’ spiritual dilemmas.The first part is the text presentation of intellectual’s spiritual dilemma.In the narrative space of the intellectuals in Li Er,the intellectuals are faced with the spiritual dilemma of power oppression,cultural alienation and economic constraint,and they are completely unable to contend with it.Therefore,they choose to stick to their personality by "escaping",or vent themselves by "aphasia",or indulge themselves by "pandering".However,no matter escape,or aphasia,pandering,are just a compromise of personal choice,rather than a struggle against the fate of being abandoned.The second part is the aesthetic expression of the intellectual’s spiritual dilemma.Resolving the story is a prominent feature of Li ’er’s writing of intellectual’s spiritual dilemma.In terms of aesthetic expression,Li Er has constructed a unique aesthetic style.He not only abandoned the traditional single linear narrative logic,but also used "suspending","spreading details" and "highlighting knowledge" to dispel the desire of narrative for stories,so as to convey the complex present life experience.This narrative strategy of deconstruct the story corresponds to the intellectual’s undisguised spiritual dilemma.The third part is the crux of intellectual’s spiritual dilemma.The intellectual spiritual dilemma in Li ’er’s novels is not groundless,but the inheritance and promotion of the intellectual image since the May 4th Movement.Modern and contemporary writers have created many images of intellectuals in spiritual dilemma,which is the modern continuation of the tradition of "following the position" who has always been willing to serve as a tool.The lack of independent personality is the fundamental crux of intellectual spiritual dilemma.In terms of narrative strategy,the way of expression that dispels the story is also the crux that prevents Li ’er’s writing of spiritual dilemma from advancing to the depth of his soul.