Chapter 28 1980 "Capricious Thoughts"

Genre: Essay Collection Author: Ba Jin First publication: People's Literature Publishing House Published: June 1980 In October 1976, the "Cultural Revolution" ended. In December 1978, Ba Jin started the writing of Caprice.He learned from the pain and wrote a large number of simple and profound essays and essays. "Caprice Record" is a requiem for death. During the "Cultural Revolution", although Ba Jin narrowly escaped death and survived by luck, his like-minded friends were persecuted to death one by one, especially his wife Xiao Shan, who was just 51 years old, because of fear and despair. He died of hatred.The deaths of these friends and relatives brought great pain to Ba Jin, who was introverted and sensitive by nature.Ba Jin's "Remembrance of Xiao Shan", "Remembrance of Xuefeng", "Mourning for Comrade Fang", "Remembering Comrade Lao She", "Comrade Zhao Dan", and other articles are long songs that should cry, and they are far and deep, and have touched countless people. reader.

The core theme of "Capricious Thoughts" is to reflect on and reveal the feudal characteristics of the "Cultural Revolution"; its sharp direction is to oppose autocracy, ignorance, and oppressive violence that suppresses human nature and tramples on human dignity. Why did the "Cultural Revolution" happen?How did man become a "beast"?What kind of scars are left on people's hearts?What price did we pay?Who should be responsible for all this?How can such tragedies and disasters be avoided from happening again?Ba Jin began to reflect painfully and deeply.

If it is said that "intellectualism" will inevitably lead to the prevalence of lies and make many people turn "telling lies" into a negative habit, then "enlightenmentism" emphasizes the value of truth and will inevitably turn "telling the truth" into a negative habit. as important principles of personal and social life. "Speaking the truth" is a topic repeatedly discussed by Ba Jin in "Caprice". He has written at least four articles devoted to "speaking the truth"; "telling the truth" is also his "goal of struggle in his later years". The writing ethics practiced in the writing process of "Caprice".The reason why he spared no effort to advocate "telling the truth" is that after the "Cultural Revolution", telling lies has become a worrying social phenomenon: "During that absurd and terrible decade, the art of lying It has developed to the point where a lie has become the truth, and telling the truth is a serious crime. I have been criticized dozens of times, and I have eaten countless lies." Those who are "always right" "It's even more commonplace to tell lies, "I never count what I say, and I will record it all in the account when someone else says a sentence or a sentence, and then the whole thing will be endless, and I don't blush at all.... Their mouths seem to have passed away from foreign countries. The weathercocks on people's roofs, where the wind blows, their mouths will face." However, "Only when people tell the truth can they live seriously." In his view, the "Cultural Revolution" was essentially A campaign of telling lies and doing false things.

From an artistic point of view, Caprice is a highly conscious and mature writing.Corresponding to the spiritual posture of "telling the truth", Ba Jin's "Thinking" shows a very precious quality in the narrative method and language form-washing away the lead, removing the carvings, showing a simple, elegant Halal style.In an era when flashy and extravagant "pure literature" was highly respected, and in an era when writing "creating emotion for literature" was popular, the value and significance of Ba Jin's writing was easily misunderstood, and even easily belittled. In 1980, a professor in Hong Kong wrote an article (Li Huoren's "Our Opinions on Ba Jin", "Open Book", September 1980), which selected "seven brief essays on the same topic" by students of "Hong Kong University". Expressed their disappointment and dissatisfaction with Caprice.A student surnamed Zhang said: "There are only 30 short essays in the book, but the 'Gang of Four' alone appeared 47 times." A student surnamed Li said: "The shortcoming of "Caprice" is that it ignores the skills, so that the meaning of the text is too superficial and superficial.” A student surnamed Su said: “The content structure of the whole book is loose, lacks tension, and the words are cumbersome, which makes people sleepy.” A student surnamed Fang The judgment was even more resolute: "Let me make a bold conclusion. From a literary point of view, "Caprice" is a complete failure."

Ba Jin frankly stated his point of view on the criticism of the students of "Hong Kong University": "I don't blush for my thirty 'unsmooth' articles. On the contrary, I am glad that I wrote them. From my break-in Since I was in the literary world, I have repeatedly declared that I am not a writer, until I spoke to Japanese readers in Tokyo in April this year, and I still repeat this old tune." Ba Jin has never been a "pure literature" theorist, but a A writer who regards the purpose and goal of writing as very important, so he has always opposed the tendency to be obsessed with technique and hates writing that is unfeeling: "Someone who proudly boasts of technique may be the lucky one. I recognize the talent of others , I lack this radiant gem, but I don't admire and envy people's so-called 'skills'. Of course, I don't want to wipe out the skills, because I have no right to interfere with others to decorate themselves more beautifully. Everyone Everyone has the right to make up whatever they want. But I really hate the kind of articles that put on airs, talk nonsense, call the dead alive, and the black red. Even if they are 'armed to the teeth' with tricks, they are nothing but article liars Or liar articles. I read a lot of this kind of articles!"

"Caprice" is simple, but not pale; it is gentle, but there is a solemn anger inside.It is a cup of high-quality weak tea, and when you taste it carefully, you will feel the aftertaste in your mouth.This is a worrying work that tells the truth and contains great love, and it is a book worthy of serious reading. Random Thoughts on Reading "Caprice Record" (Yang Yancheng) Ba Jin's Charm Ba Jin's Gold Content——Reading the manuscript of "Caprice"