How does the color red act as a symbol in modern Chinese literature, and how is red uniquely associated with China in different historical contexts?
Colors are meaningful symbols that can be used in literature to portray specific emotions, beliefs, and ideas. The color red in China is especially symbolic and can represent love, fortune, devotion, and passion. In this project, we explored the distinctive meanings of the color red throughout different pieces of modern Chinese literature. During the Cultural Revolution, red became an omnipresent representation of communist rule and promoted nationalist ideals at the expense of individual identities. In Red Sorghum, red conveyed passionate emotions and contributed to Mo Yan’s unique depiction of specific scenes. Red then became a symbol of self sacrifice and protest against communist rule during the June Fourth Movement. Finally, red represented the suffering of working-class citizens in Migrant Worker Poetry. The color red enhanced the messages conveyed in each piece of Chinese literature, and its symbolism is uniquely tied to the the identity of modern day China. |