On the Influence of Taoism on Female Characters in Moment in Peking
Abstract
Moment in Peking is one of the most famous English novel of Lin Tangy. It was written when Dr. Lin lived in Paris from August, 1938 to August, 1939. It is modeled on the structure of A Dream in Red Mansions, and dedicated “To the Brave Chinese Soldiers”. It tells the vicissitudes of life and the feelings of gratitude and resentment of the Zengs, the Yaos, the News, from the Boxer Rebellion (1901) to the Anti-Japanese War. It showed the historical style and features of the changes of modern Chinese society. The book shaped hundreds of figures, including more than 50 women images. The author expressed in a unique angle to express his respect and admiration to women. Every woman has a different story, and distinct personality traits. (Wang Zhibo, 2006:4) Their personality is distinct, high status, even beyond men in some ways. Compared with the previous writers, the author has a detailed understanding of women, and his work is more closed to the real life, so as to achieve a new world. At that time, this had made a great progress, although flawed, but in spite of his flaws.
The author represents his Taoist thought through the whole novel, in terms of characterization, plot and etc. Taoist thought is not only the theme of the full text, but also determines the basic structure of it. The author in the book conveys details of Taoist thought and, reflects the Taoist thought on three levels, namely the Taoist chronological life, easy detachment of the outlook on life and the method of gaining liberation, and spiritual freedom.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18686/ahe.v3i1.1081
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