In response to the readings we have done so far, I see an on going theme of sadness, hardships, sorrow and as a whole many negative and dismal situations. In many of the recent readings there is also a theme of those who are trying to break away from traditional ways thereby accepting new and more modern ideals, with this instills a sense of hope. Many of these themes are in conjunction with how Chinese people felt during this time. They all seem to point out that when you are stuck in tradition and refuse to open your mind to innovation you will forever be a prisoner of your own close-mindedness. .
In week number two's readings there is a concentration on hardships in life, the upholding of tradition, and breaking away from tradition. "Spring Silkworms" by Mao Dun, in particular demonstrates all three of these themes. The hardship that the Old Tong Bao's family faces in raising the "little darlings", their tradition of this practice in regards to superstitions, and A Duo's free spirited character. In summery "Spring Silkworms" is about a family who is currently in debt, so they try to get out of it through their traditional ways, blinded by all the changes that have happened around them and therefore are unsuccessful are getting rid of their debt. Not only do they fail in repaying their debt, but they fall into greater debt and have lost there land. A Duo's character in this tale sheds a little light because of his realistic sense, in that he did not believe in any of the family's superstitions toward Lotus, nor did he believe his family would be able to rid their debt in a single silkworm farming season. Though this was his own personal belief he still did everything he was told to do. .
"Sinking" by Yu Dafu, also demonstrates the themes above. It is about a young man that experiences much loneliness, through his megalomania and hypochondria. Similar to "A Madman's Diary" the main character suffers from some sort of ailment and feels as if everyone was starring at him, laughing at him, and ridiculing him, though our main character in "Sinking" did not think everyone was going to eat him, his paranoid state did not help his situation in any way.
