Literary Analysis

"Diary of a Madman": A Call for Change

Chinese culture is one of the oldest cultures still prevalent today. The Chinese have been influencing language, trade, food, the arts, and other functions within cultures all over the world for years. Throughout their history, the Chinese have undergone a series of cultural shifts, yet it still remains a culture and people that exude traditional values and history even in the modern age of being an economic and world power. During one of China’s greatest political and culture shifts, the New Cultural Movement, the Chinese people rose up to abandon some traditional values and culture elements. During this movement writers were beginning to criticize traditional Chinese culture through their literary works. One of these authors is Lu Xun.  In his classical short story, “Diary of a Madman”, Xun provides a metaphorical literary criticism of one of the building blocks of Chinese culture and tradition: Confucianism.  Through the use of metaphor, first person point of view, and symbolism through character, Xun writes a thought evoking piece and criticism about the role of traditional ideals in Chinese society.

Lu Xun’s  “Diary of a Madman” is composed of diary entries from an unnamed character. The narrator records his activities in his village, where he seems to think everyone is a cannibal. He is more comfortable amongst moonlight and suffers paranoia. He constantly feels like the people in his village are giving him dirty looks, including the children. He eventually comes up with the idea that the people are cannibals and will soon eat away at him as they do everyone else. The narrator begins to speak with people about his thoughts, but he is constantly shut down. In one diary entry, the narrator has an illusion about a man and begins to talk to the illusion about the cannibalism. The illusion responds “Maybe they are, but it’s the way it’s always been” (37).   As the narrator goes on in his diary he begins to ponder the idea of cannibalism and how the tradition is being passed down from generation to generation. Finally he confronted Elder Brother about it, and he is laughed at by the masses and soon he carried away back to his chambers.  In his very last diary entry, he expresses a moment of hope that maybe there are children out there who do not practice the cannibalism and writes one last sentence , “Save the Children” (41). “Diary of a Madman” is a metaphor for Chinese society and traditions based off of the teachings of Confucius.  By connecting Confucian values to acts that are violent such as cannibalism, Xun evokes emotion from the audience. Though most know Confucius for his wise teaching of philosophy and humanism, throughout the years, his teachings formed a strict Chinese culture and traditions. And for thousands of years, these beliefs and traditions were passed down from generation to generation. It was their way of life. As the Chinese were continuing with this way of life, Xun believed that their culture and values were eating away at the Chinese people until soon there would be nothing left.Yet many of the people did not notice that their traditions are eating away them and their people and he reflects that in his character's diary entry. The narrator wrote “I just realized today that I too have muddled around for a good many years in a place where they’ve been continually eating people  for four thousand years” (41). The metaphor, provides enlightenment and is used to draw emotion from the Chinese people to provoke change before everyone eats away at each other. 

 Point of view is another vital element of this piece. The first person, diary point of view provides the reader with the ability to see the world from the “madman’s” eyes. The reader gets to understand his thoughts and perception towards the cannibalism. You are no longer from the outside looking in, but from the inside looking  out into the character’s mind. It makes you take the side of the narrator because you see what he sees and feel what he feels. At the beginning, the reader sees the narrator's paranoia, but as the diary develops you begin to understand and the narrators sense of enlightenment. You begin to understand why the narrator wants to bring an end the cannibalistic ways. The first person point of view not only asserts the narrators opinions and believes, but it expresses Xun’s thoughts and criticism. 

In “Diary of a Madman” symbolism is present everywhere. But one interesting literary concept Xun uses is presenting symbolism not just through objects, but within characters. The first use of symbolism using character can be found within the narrator himself. The narrator represents a new ideal that goes against tradition. When the narrator/new ideal presents himself the people laugh at him, resent him, and label him as a madman or crazy because he is going against tradition, something that is not accepted. The Elder Brother symbolizes the skepticism towards change. The narrator wrote

“I also realized that they didn’t all think the same. Some thought it’s always been like this and that they really should eat human flesh. Others knew they shouldn’t but went right on doing it anyway, always on the lookout for fear someone might give them away” (39).

The Elder Brother is one of those people and in order to save face, he continues to be a cannibal and labels his brother a madman. He doesn’t let the people hurt him, yet he does not defend him. Another character that is a symbol is the Venerable Old Man. The Venerable Old Man is wise, educated, and honorable. He represents the traditional Chinese man. He shuns new ideals, yet the narrator expresses that the Venerable Old Zhao seems to be afraid of him also (30). One could assert that the Venerable Old Zhao senses that they new ideal is a threat to him and his power over his followers.The last uses of symbolism within character are the children. The narrator seems to be more so fearful when the children stare at him than when the Venerable Old Zhao and others do so. He could not understand why children stare at him like that, but soon he understands “their mothers and fathers have taught them that” (30). This bothers him greatly. This is because children not only represent the future, but they represent hope. Seeing that the children act just like their parents, means that there is little or no hope of change in sight. If the future continues the same traditions that are eating people then there is no hope. At the very end of his diary, in his last entry, the narrator thinks back to the children with a small sense of hope and optimism“Maybe there are some children around who still haven’t eaten human flash. Save the children…” (41). 
Xun's "Diary of a Madman" is  thought provoking criticism and metaphor for Chinese tradition and culture. Using elements such as metaphor, point of view, and symbolism, Xun writes a classical piece of literature that reflects his opinions about Chinese traditions and the need for change. In a time where radical change was not accepted or acknowledged, many classical yet innovative Chinese thinkers worked to promote radical change. This push was made for the betterment of Chinese society and its people. Even after the New Cultural Revolution, the Chinese have not let their traditions go. Yet, there is balance between traditional Chinese culture and history and modern society. This balance has allowed China and her people to move into the future while still remaining proud of their history and tradition that helped lay the cornerstone for their nation.

Works Cited: Lu Xun, “Diary of a Madman,” William A. Lyell trans.,Diary of a Madman and Other Stories, University of Hawaii Press, 1990, 29-41.