Torrent Trilogy
《激流三部曲》
Torrent，a masterpiece of Ba Jin，is a trilogy consisting of Family，Spring and Autumn . It is generally recognized in the history of modern Chinese literature as a monumental work that focuses on the condemnation of the evils and follies of the feudal autocratic system. Family ,the first of the trilogy ,achieves most abundantly in terms of artistry and produces the most extensive influence with its eternal artistic value. Based on the love stories of Juehui and Mingfeng，Qian Meifen and Li Ruiyu,Juemin and (din as the main thread of its plot development，the novel describes the irreconcilable contradiction between these young people and the feudal etiquettes and autocracy which brought about their tragic eventualities in their pursuit for love and happiness. It denounces the cruel persecution by the patriarchal system and old feudal ethics against youth，love and life，directing squarely the spearhead of its criticism to the feudal despotism and calling on young people to rise up and fight against it by dedicating themselves into the current of revolution. On the basis of the stories a-bout Shuying's resistance to her marriage and about the tragic incident of Hui，her cousin，Spring，the second of the trilogy，manifests not only the misfortune of women under the irrational marriage system，but also the writer's condemnation of the feudal autocracy. Focusing on the destiny of the members of the third generation of the Gao family，Autumn，the third of the series，delineates the tragedy of Zhou Mei and Gao Shuying as well as the degeneration of Jueying and Juequn ;it castigates，too，the evils of the feudal autocracy for its torturing and corrupting of the young people via the feudal etiquettes，thus indicating lucidly the inevitable disintegration of the old-style familial system. It makes a skilful use of the events as its thread with the scenes as the connection of the stories. Though relatively loose in structure，yet the approach makes it easier for the characters to express their emotions. In terms of characterization，the writer pays special attention to the depiction of the beauty of mind，of human nature，and especially of maidens. In addition，the characterization of Juexin as a wavering character in the history of new vernacular literature turns him into a representative of “the unnecessary figures in Chinese literature.”
巴金的代表作《激流三部曲》包括《家》、《春》、《秋》三部小说，是我国现代文学史上抨击封建专制制度罪恶的一座丰碑。其中第一部《家》成就最高，影响最大，具有永恒的艺术价值。《家》以觉慧与鸣凤、觉新与钱梅芬和李瑞压、觉民与琴等几对青年的爱情故事为情节发展的主干，描写了他们为追求幸福爱情而与封建礼教和封建专制制度发生的不可调和的矛盾，从而导致了他们的悲剧命运的故事，控诉了家长制和旧礼教对青春、爱情与生命的摧残，把批判的矛头集中指向了封建专制主义，号召青年起来反抗封建专制，投人到社会革命的洪流中去。第二部《春》主要描写的是淑英抗婚的故事以及与之相对的蕙表妹的悲剧事件，表现了不合理的、丑恶的婚姻制度对妇女的摧残以及作者对封建专制的婚姻制度的控诉与批判。第三部《秋》把注意力放到高家第三代的命运上，描写了周枚与高淑贞的悲剧以及觉英、觉群的堕落，抨击了专制主义假手封建礼教摧残腐蚀青少年的罪恶，表现了旧家庭的分崩离析。《激流三部曲》以事件为主线索，以场面串联故事，结构比较松散，但更便于人物抒情。塑造人物时，作者重在刻画人物的心灵美、人性美，特别善于挖掘少女的心灵美。作品还塑造了觉新这个新文学史卜动摇型的人物，成为中国文学中“多余人”的代表。
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