[書評] 「家」について : 巴金の小說意識についての一考察

Abstract

The novel Chia or "The Family" assured the writer Pa Chin 巴金 a place of importance in modern Chinese literature, as well as exercising a great influence upon the youth of China at the time of its publication in 1931. The author describes with considerable effectiveness the struggle of the hero Chüeh-hui 覺慧 against the feudalistic ways of his family and depicts the life of the younger generation in the new China. He develops his theme through a series of clashes and conflicts between the forces of the old order and those of the new, culminating in the victory of the latter. The relationship between the old and new remains throughout the novel one of simple confrontation, however, and there is no attempt to suggest any development which might arise out of the influence of one upon the other. It is obvious that the author's intention was not only to expose the nature of the old feudalistic family system through objective analysis, but also to picture the new life of the younger generation which will replace this old order. The failure of the author to give an adequate analysis of this older family system, however, makes it difficult to understand what it is the hero is combating and does much to prevent the book from having a universal interest outside the time and environment of its publication.