Chapter 28 The Class Character of Literature (with letter from Kailiang)

Mr. Lu Xun: Mr. Shi Heng translated "Individuality and Class Nature in Literature" written by Lin Guiweifu. [2] This article was originally an excellent article, but it is a pity that the issue of historical materialism at the end of the article is a bit reluctant in theory. Perhaps the author's misunderstanding of historical materialism.He said: "If this reason is inferred, the individuality of the possessor and the individuality of the propertyless are not the same as a whole. That is to say, there is no common humanity between the possessor and the propertyless. To put it another way In other words, the haves and have-nots only have a class character, but lack individuality at all.”

What is this nonsense!How can the theory of historical materialism be so simple.Its theory does not deny individuality, and therefore, does not deny thought, morality, emotion, art.But character, thought, morality, emotion, and art are all subject to economic control.Lin's article focuses on individuality, so let's talk about individuality.For example, in the patriarchal society of the rural economy, the wife is regarded as the man's property, but the culture has advanced to today's society, and the wife is recognized as having a considerable personality.This idea, of course, is common to both haves and have-nots.Although it is common, it is not innate, and still cannot escape the domination of the economy.The material life of the haves and the have-nots is affected by the economy and they are different, but their individuality is also affected by the economy but they are common.It is not the commonality of the human nature of the haves and the have-nots but that they are not affected by the economic system.

Lin can refute historical materialism based on this, so why not refute historical materialism by saying that "people are the same with rounded and square toes, eat and sleep, and are common to both haves and have-nots"? Much more refreshing. Finally, I must declare: I am a worker under the capitalist system.Because I am an employee, anyone can be sure of the lack of knowledge.Naturally, there are many inadequacies and inadequacies in this article.But I hope that someone who understands Marx's theory better will fight for historical materialism. In order to avoid the suspicion of scholars, I wrote it to Mr. Lu Xun in the form of a letter.Whether it is published is the prerogative of the editor.

Kailiang [3] in Shanghai, July and February 1928. reply Mr. Kai Liang: I am a layman to historical materialism, so I can't say anything.But as far as Lin's passage is concerned, he changed the words twice to become "only" and "completely lacking", but it seems that the decision was too fast.Probably not many people who are engaged in literature and talk about historical materialism can pick out one by one from the basic books. They often just read a few abstracts of others.And this kind of summary varies according to the author's academic meaning. Some authors, aiming to make class consciousness clear and sharp, try to strengthen the class theory, but on the other hand, it is easy to be misunderstood.I haven't seen another paper by Lin on the basis of this article, and I can't say whether he has gone to the opposite extreme because of this, but there is such a case in China, where individuality and common human nature (that is, Lin's so-called individual nature) ), individualism or egoism, to denounce what they think is materialist historical materialism, and if someone uses this to discuss historical materialism, it will be really bad.

Although the metaphor of "eating and sleeping" in the letter is just a joke, Trodsky once used the "terror of death" [4] as common to all ancient and modern people to explain that there are elements in literature that do not have a class character. In fact, it is about the same.In myself, I think that if character, emotion, etc. are all "dominated by the economy" (it can also be said to be based on or dependent on the economic organization), then these must all have a class character.But "all" instead of "only".That’s why I don’t believe that there are eternal great writers who transcend class and whose articles are like the sun and the moon, and I don’t believe in revolutionary literature that lives in bungalows and drinks coffee, but says “I am the only one who has grasped the consciousness of the proletariat, so I am a real proletarian” By.

People with knowledge of Marx come to fight for historical materialism. At this moment, I do not agree.I only hope that there are real people who are willing to translate a few books on historical materialism that have been judged in the world—at least, one is simple and simple, and two are sophisticated—and one or two opposing works .So, a lot of words can be saved in arguing. Lu Xun.August 10th. BB [1] This article was originally published on August 20, 1928, the thirty-fourth chapter of the fourth volume of "Yusi", the original title was "Communication Part Two", and it was changed to the current title when it was included in this book. [2] Shiheng is Han Shiheng, a native of Tianjin, a literary youth at that time.His translation of Lin Guiweifu's article appeared in the twenty-ninth issue of the fourth volume of "Yusi" (July 1928), and the original text appeared in the ninth issue of Japan's "Shinchao" (1926). Just the first paragraph of the original text.The author claimed in the article: "I stand on the foothold of 'denying historical materialism'".Hayashi Guimio (1883-1947), Japanese economist and sociologist.

[3] Kailiang is unknown. 〔4〕The "terror of death" can be found in Trotsky's "Literature and Revolution", Chapter 8 "Revolutionary and Socialist Art".