Abstract
The image of Ah-Q in Lu Xun's writing is not a carrier of any specific “characteristics”—be it national character or revolutionary spirit—but rather embodies a unique life-world. On the one hand， the individual living being of Ah-Q， who comes from the lowest social class， has been constructed and disciplined by the dominant language system of representation， of which he is also a maintainer and practitioner. On the other hand， he is also shaped by this system into a complete “other”， and is ultimately expelled and even eliminated by the system. As an “other”， Ah-Q's basic desires， rights and social positions are not approved and protected by the system. Instead， the system relentlessly encircles Ah-Q， inflicting tremendous physical and mental damage upon him. Ah-Q's victories are a kind of radically distorted linguistic activity in the face of external encirclement and attack. As Lu Xun argued， there are no thought and “-isms” in the integral history of China， but only flashes of materialism， and Ah-Q is unable to break free from the grip of this materialistic realm.
Keywords
Lu Xun; The Real Story of Ah-Q; life-world; language; material
First Page
204
Last Page
213
Recommended Citation
Cao, Qinghua. 2024. "Language and Material： The Life-world of Ah-Q." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 43, (4): pp.204-213. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol43/iss4/21
