New Year Sacrifice 1956 Presented by Ling Shih

“New Year Sacrifice” 祝福 （1956） Presented by Ling Shih

�The novel “New Year Sacrifice” use flashbacks to tell the story. �Began with a detailed portrayal of Xiang lin Sao. The author Lu Xun gave a different detailed accounts on the portrait of Xiang Lin Sao--at the beginning, after the return to Lu Si Ye 鲁四爷 the middle, and to the end of the story. We can see how she has changed over time. Introduction

Lu Xun is good at exploring important social topics through tragic characters, as we see in “the Story of Ah Q, ” and “Kong Yi Jing. ” “New Year Sacrifice” also explores poignant social topics of his time through the tragic characters of Xiang Lin Sao and her family.

�Background ◦ “New Year Sacrifice” is Lu Xun’s well-know master piece, which is the first novella in a collection of his short novels, “Pang Huang” (Indecision). ◦ “New Year Sacrifice” reflects the dark social reality of China after the establishment of the new republic in 1911. ◦ It poignantly reflects how working class women were oppressed and mistreated in a feudalistic society. It exposed the cannibalistic essence of feudalistic ethics. ◦ This novel was later turned into a movie and plays. Introduction (Cont. )

� First please answer: How many sections can we divide this plot according to the novel you read and compare it with the movie? Did you see any differences in the way the story is presented? ◦ （1）Prologue：The New Year’s Sacrifice Scene ◦ （2）End: Xiang Lin Sao passed away quietly ◦ （3）Beginning：First came to the Lu’s Town ◦ （4）Development：Then sold to be remarried ◦ （5）Climax: Came back to Lu’s Town. ◦ （6）End：Sacrifice and my thoughts and feelings. The Novel’s Plot

�What effects does the usage of flashbacks achieve? �What’s the first scene you see in the novel? �What’s the first scene you see in the movie? �Which one is more effective in your opinion? Flashbacks? Or chronological The effect of The flashbacks

� 1 st, when she first came to Lu Town: � 2 nd, Came back to Lu Town � 3 rd, before she died (when she met the author again in the novel) � What are these representations reflect her personality, her internal and emotional state, and her circumstances? Lu Xun uses 白描手法 simple and straightforward of writing (Like drawing) The three detailed representations of Xiang Lin Sao

�What are the social causes that contributes to the tragedy of Xiang Lin Sao? ◦ Discuss the causes of Xiang Lin Sao’s death. Is it natural death? Suicide? Killed by others? ◦ Discuss who can be said to directly or indirectly contribute to the death of Xiang Lin Sao? How?

Who contributes to the death of Xiang Lin Sao?

�Lu Lao Si Ye 鲁老四爷— ◦ What kind of person is he? �He is conservative, stubborn. He scolded new party. Against reform and revolution. Deeply indoctrinated with feudal thinking and Confucian ethics. ◦ What does he represent? �He represents the landlord class and intellectual class. ◦ How did he treat Xiang Lin Sao? What beliefs led him to hold prejudices against Xiang Lin Sao? ◦ Can we say Lu Lao Si Ye kill Xiang Lin Sao? � His wife, The Fourth Aunt (Si Sheng 四婶) Is Lu Lao Si Ye guilty? Is His wife guilty?

�Liu Ma: Both Liu Ma and Xiang Lin Sao are victims of the old society. She two was exploited and oppressed by the ruling class. However, she was indoctrinated with feudalistic thinking and superstition and believes in “To starve is small matter, but to lose one’s chastity is serious. "She told Xiang Lin Sao how to redeem herself. What solution has she come up with? �People in Lu Town. Is Liu Ma and the whole society guilty?

�Mother-in-law and Big Uncle ◦ Feudalistic society condones the mother-in-law to sell Xiang Lin Sao and force her to remarry; however, the same feudalistic ethics condemns her remarriage. ◦ Eldest Uncle took the house back after the death of Xiang Lin Sao’s 2 nd husband. Why? Who else are guilty?

Why Lu Si Ye despised Xiang Lin Sao as “scoundrel” (谬种）？

�In the story, analyze the significance of Lu Si Ye’s words in the movie. What kind of person is Lu Si Ye? What words he said reveals his true character?