The most controversial work in China's literary history is A Dream of Red Mansions. The most controversial issue in A Dream of Red Mansions is the issue of Chai Dai. Which heroine is better, Lin Daiyu or Xue Baochai? This is a very tempting topic. Since A Dream of Red Mansions was handed down from generation to generation, readers seem to be divided into two camps. Praise Lin for belittling Xue, praise firewood for restraining Dai. Both sides can fight to the point of "several old fists" But whether it is "helping Lin" or "helping Xue", the subconscious of both sides acquiesced in a premise of * * * *: Chai Dai is antagonistic and irreconcilable. Either Dai is dead or Chai is dead, and they all have to argue for their beloved artistic image to the end. Didn't someone say long ago that Chai Dai was "two irreconcilable beauties" (Jiang Hesen on Lin Daiyu)? People always habitually regard the personality of "rationality, utility, secularity and scheming" and the thought of "morality and feudalism" as Baochai's exclusive; "Emotional, artistic, self-centered, naive and willful" character and "rebellious and revolutionary" thought are judged to be exclusive to Daiyu. Then, comment on these binary opposites. But I don't want to think about whether this judgment itself is correct. I don't want to think whether Baochai also has a "emotional, artistic, selfish, naive and willful" personality, and whether Daiyu also has a "rational, utilitarian, secular and calculating" personality! Under the guidance of fixed thinking, the prejudice in the early stage turned into superstition in the later stage. Even when it comes to Baochai, there are always strategies and utilitarianism. When it comes to Daiyu, there are always feelings and tears. So the red scientist who tasted it shouted the famous slogan: "People who care about real life like Xue Baochai!" Those who are inclined to spiritual life, admire Lin Daiyu! (Wang Kunlun's Dream of Red Mansions) It is against this background that Mr. Wang Meng put forward two concepts, namely "Xue Baochai's spirit" and "Lin Daiyu's temperament", which brought the world's superstition of the polar opposition between Chai Dai to the extreme.

Wang Meng believes that the so-called "Xue Baochai spirit" is a kind of "identity spirit" and a kind of "rational, calm and almost cold self-denial spirit." His thoughts and behaviors of "sincerity inside and reality outside", "reasonable advance and retreat, combination of rigidity and softness, proper behavior, and hiding from time to time" can be called the cultural ideal at that time, which is essentially a kind of "politician's quality". Associated with "Fan Li, Sean, Xiao He and Wei Zhi, but much higher than Shang Yang, Wuqi and Han Xin". Wang Meng said that he felt alienated, disgusted and even creepy about Baochai's "superhuman shrewdness, shrewdness and calmness". If a society only has "Xue Baochai's spirit", it will be "too boring, too lonely and too indifferent". Therefore, it is necessary to "correct, supplement and conflict Lin Daiyu's temperament." And "Lin Daiyu's temperament" is "an ideal, a poem, a feeling, a feeling that all computers don't have, but that human beings are eager for and hard to get." Finally, he concluded: "Only those who can socialize will have the spirit of Xue Baochai;" People, especially women, will have the temperament of Lin Daiyu. " "Taken together, Dai Li represents the most basic paradox of human nature. "Human nature" can be emotional, desirous, willful, self-centered and full, which is vividly displayed in Lin Daiyu. "At the same time, human nature is group, rational, strategic and self-control, which is vividly manifested in Xue Baochai." So "Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai are not only two typical living people, but also human beings, which is a high summary of female personality quality and psychological mechanism." (Wang Meng's New Theory on the Unity of Women and Wear, Research Methods of Dream of Red Mansions)

Mr. Wang Meng's wonderful words have raised the tradition of the dispute between firewood and clothes to an unprecedented height. However, "the heights are too cold." The theorization of "bipolar opposition" also inevitably exposes its fatal weakness-since the theorists know that "human nature can be emotional, desirous, willful and self-sufficient, but also rational, group, strategic and self-restrained", why do they think that Daiyu must be the embodiment of the former and Baochai must be the embodiment of the latter? How do you know that a person will not have two kinds of human nature? Wang Meng said: "Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai are both living typical figures, both human beings." He also said that "people with society will have the spirit of Xue Baochai; People, especially women, will have the temperament of Lin Daiyu. " Then I would like to ask Mr. Wang Meng, as a "social person", does Lin Daiyu have the spirit of Xue Baochai? As a "person, especially a woman", does Xue Baochai have "Lin Daiyu temperament"? If not, is Lin Daiyu still a "social person"? Is Xue Baochai still a "woman"? If there is, it is that there is Xue in the forest and there is a forest in Xue. Why should they be regarded as "diametrically opposed" poles? Is it a basic paradox to be so abstruse in words and so absurd in logic? It has been pointed out that Wang Meng talks about Baochai as "talking about history, society and reality", while Daiyu talks about poetry, inspiration, talent and emotion. (Bai Dun's Historical Draft on the Study of a Dream of Red Mansions) This really hits the nail on the head: Why didn't the commentator start thinking reversely and think instead? Talk about Daiyu's history, society and reality, and Baochai's poems, inspirations, talents and feelings? If so, the pseudo-red chamber composed of superstition and prejudice will probably fall apart.

Article 21 Reflection and Enlightenment

Reflection 1: Daiyu's sophistication

One of the most common beliefs that Chai Dai gave to debaters and pro-forest factions was that Baochai was "sophisticated", "smooth" and good at flattering others, while Daiyu was upright and upright, "crying whenever she wanted, making trouble whenever she wanted", which did not please her elders. Critics often cite two events in episode 22 as evidence to belittle Chai. The first one was for Baochai's birthday and asked her to order it. Baochai knew that old people like sweet and rotten food, so she ordered what the old lady always liked. The last one is Yuan Chun's lantern riddle. Let's guess. Baochai guessed at a glance, but the hypothesis was difficult to guess, so she deliberately thought about it. Chai Dai's evaluation of these two things is "hypocritical and disgusting". As everyone knows, this kind of "sophistication", "smoothness" or "hypocrisy" and "cunning" is also what Daiyu lacks. For the third time, Daiyu first entered Jiafu, "always pay attention, pay attention step by step", and was good at formulating ethical etiquette for everything, tea and rice in Jiafu. Shows her sophistication and prudence. When Grandmother Jia asked her why she was studying, Daiyu replied, "I only read four books." Grandmother Jia immediately told a story about a granddaughter who was studying. Daiyu felt that the old lady didn't like girls reading. By heart, Baoyu asked her what books she had read, and she changed it to "never read." There is no essential difference between this flattering behavior and Baochai's guessing. Is this "hypocritical and disgusting"? On the way back to Yuan Chun on 18, Daiyu also wrote a poem to praise her. Moreover, it can be seen that she is determined to "show her poetic talent", and she is by no means echoing the voice. Therefore, her "why are you lucky to invite your pet, and the palace car is diligent" is not in Baochai's "Where do you see the fairy, how dare you say goodbye?" As for the poem "There is no hunger in the prosperous times, so why are you busy weaving" in "Look at the Apricot Curtain again", it is a typical eulogy and even Yuan Fei thinks it is the best poem. Cheng Gaoben returned to ninety-four times, and "Grandmother Jia rewarded the demon flowers". Everyone thinks that autumn flowering of begonia is a bad omen. When Daiyu came out alone, she told a story of "Tian Jia Jing Shu" coming back from the dead. According to this allusion, the reopening of Haitang is a good sign, which attracted grandma's great joy. Is this flattery again? It is ridiculous that Mr. Xie Tieli dared not face up to this plot when directing A Dream of Red Mansions and forced Daiyu to blame Baochai. The audience readily accepted it, flawless. This also shows from a negative side that there is no essential difference between Chai and Dai, and their behaviors can be implanted with each other.

In fact, if we look at A Dream of Red Mansions from a historical perspective, it is not difficult to solve the above problems. Cao Xueqin and Zhi Yanzhai are both "children of the old family". Their spirit and thoughts are deeply influenced by aristocratic culture, and they don't want to overthrow the old family that gave birth to them like their descendants. Instead, it always shows infinite attachment. As can be seen from the comments, Zhi Yanzhai often shows off "Everyone strict father". Their values and aesthetics cannot be confused with modern people. For example, the stories of "cutting stocks and waiting for relatives" and "paintball" in "Twenty-four Filial Pieties" are very melodramatic and ridiculous to people today. In the eyes of children in their hometown, it is likely to be serious, serious and even noble. On the other hand, in A Dream of Red Mansions, Chai Dai flatters her elders, not to label them as "hypocritical" or "treacherous"-that is not "telling stories for boudoir", but to denigrate boudoir. The author's original intention is to praise them for their filial piety, understanding of books and good family style. Therefore, whether it is Chai or Dai, their behavior can not be understood as flattery and scheming, but should be regarded as a kind move to ease the atmosphere and promote harmony within the family, which is reasonable and sophisticated.

The second reflection: Daiyu's calculation

Never take "calmness" and "reason" as Baochai's patents. Once Daiyu calmed down, her scheming was really inseparable from Baochai. The 45th time, Baochai suggested Daiyu eat bird's nest. Daiyu said, "Although bird's nest is easy to get, it is only because I am in poor health that I have to call a doctor and cook medicine that I have caused an uproar. Now I am writing a new article, cooking bird's nest porridge. The old lady, wife and sister Feng have nothing to say. Those old ladies and maids at the bottom think I have too much to do. " A 15-year-old girl has so many thoughts, can she be said to be ignorant of the world? The thirty-fifth time, Baoyu was beaten, and Daiyu looked at Yuan. I thought to myself, "It's just that Xifeng didn't come. Why didn't she come to see Baoyu? Even if something bothers her, she must want to make a noise to please the old lady's wife. There must be a reason for not coming today. " In contrast, Baoyu has never had such a calm and profound analysis of Xifeng. The fifty-second time, Aunt Zhao came to see Daiyu and asked, "How's your girl recently?" Daiyu knew that she "came from Tanchun, passing by the door and dropping by". She quickly sat down with a smile: "It's rare for auntie to think about it. It's too cold, I came in person. " Daiyu doesn't have much affection for Aunt Zhao, but she can be so decent and not show any traces. Is this "superhuman shrewdness, shrewdness and calmness"?

If it is asserted that Daiyu's scheming is a kind of "politician's quality", which makes people "alienated, disgusted and even creepy", readers will definitely not buy it. But don't forget, Baochai used a bunch of similar examples to exaggerate the sensitivity of Baochai, an ordinary girl, to the point where the arguer was fascinated.

Reflection 3: Daiyu's easygoing.

Generous and easy-going, gentle and considerate is not Baochai's patent. Daiyu's behavior is also forgivable. The 40th time, Chai Dai and Baoyu went to the Jade Palace for tea. Miaoyu wanted to talk to Baoyu alone, but it only hindered Baochai. Daiyu knew that she was eccentric. She doesn't talk much and doesn't sit much. After tea, she asked Baochai out. "On another occasion, Daiyu kindly gave her a bird's nest girl and tea. I am also worried that she will "send it in the rain" and "delay the night show to make a fortune" and send her a drink (the 45th time). And the 62nd time, Dai Yu's understanding of offensive words. After Baoyu's birthday, Baochai was having tea at one place, and Aroma came to wait on him. Seeing that she was as busy as a bee, Daiyu said with a smile, "You know my illness. Doctors don't drink much tea. This half minute is enough, and you can't think of it. " I'm glad to hear the aroma. Even for Tanchun's reform of reducing monthly expenses, Daiyu can understand it very well. She said to Baoyu, "That's the only way. We spent too much money. Although I don't care about things, every time I am free, I will do the math for them. If I don't save money now, I won't take it. " You see, she is so reasonable, isn't she a treasure chai?

Reflection 4: Baochai's gentleness

Daiyu has Baochai's generosity and thoughtfulness, and Baochai's heart is full of Daiyu's tenderness. In this regard, the author carefully designed two plots to make Baochai's deep love just right. The thirty-fourth time, Baoyu was beaten to bed. Baochai came with the money of pills in her hand, but the feelings and shyness hidden in her heart had already been felt by the sensitive Baoyu, and she was greatly moved in her heart, and even the pain was thrown out of the cloud nine. The thirty-sixth time, Baoyu fell asleep in a silver-red gauze shirt. Xiren is on a business trip. Baochai, who had been talking to xiren, couldn't help sitting in xiren's seat, picked up the white silk bag that xiren made for Baoyu and tied it up. The pattern of the belly is red-violet green leaves and five-color mandarin ducks. Baochai is surrounded by a flying broom to drive away insects and flies, just like a loving couple. Baochai, once famous for her modesty and introversion, suddenly lost her mind, and she was so calm and natural, and her inner changes and fluctuations were clear and wonderful. The melody is subtle and vivid. Readers are unconsciously immersed in this slow-moving emotional wave. I wonder if Chai Dai will still feel "too boring, too lonely and too indifferent" after reading such words to the arguer?

The fifth reflection: Baochai's sensitivity

It is also interesting to compare Baochai and Daiyu's sensitivity and "meanness" in love.

Give a well-known example about Daiyu. It was when she and Baoyu were reading The West Chamber. Obviously, the drama of "hibiscus out of water, all kinds of worries" knocked on the girl's heart, and the rising love was like a spring. Baoyu took the opportunity to show his love: "I am a sad and sick body, and you are that beautiful face." Unexpectedly, Daiyu's face suddenly changed, pointing to Baoyu and swearing: "You damn nonsense! Hey, take these obscene songs and bully me with the words of these bastards. " (Back to the 23rd) I was so anxious that Baoyu was too busy to make amends. Daiyu obviously can't stand the straightforwardness of love.

It is Baochai's sensitivity that is inseparable from Meng and Meng. The thirtieth time, Baoyu greeted Baochai, but in a joke, he fell in love with jade bone beauty, an ice muscle jade bone, and subconsciously said a long-simmering metaphor: "No wonder people say that my sister is like Yang Fei, which turned out to be a little fuller." I didn't want Baochai to feel humiliated, but I immediately retorted, "I am like Yang Fei, but unfortunately no good brother can do Yang Guozhong." This leads to the words "Baochai borrows a fan and knocks twice"-it seems that Baochai can't stand the frankness of Baoyu's love. Another time, on the thirty-fifth time, Baoyu was beaten, and Baochai blamed Xue Pan for being distressed, so she "mistakenly advised her brother". Xue Pan couldn't stand such injustice, so he spoke out his sister's mind in a hurry. It's a pity that this silly brother didn't understand the girl's fragile mind at all, but just shouted at random. As a result, Baochai was "full of grievances and anger, and went to her room to cry all night." Until I saw my mother the next day, I still hid my face and cried. Xue Pan coaxed Baochai and smiled through tears.

Chai Dai always said to the discussant, "Baochai has Baochai's words and deeds, and Daiyu has Daiyu's words and deeds." However, if the above details are changed, the harsh words are replaced by Baochai's behavior, and the "crying from hiding your face" is replaced by Daiyu's behavior, readers may not know who is firewood and who is wearing it.

Reflection 6: Baochai's rejection of customs

Another widely circulated viewpoint about Baochai's argument is that Baochai's "fame and fortune" catered to feudal society everywhere. The sentence "Good wind sent me to Qingyun" in Linjiang Xian's catkin poem was cited as evidence of Baochai's "ambition". But the original book seems to be deliberately against this view, and the most ruthless character in the book is Baochai.

Back to the 38th Chrysanthemum Crab Banquet, Baochai wrote a poem about crabs. Baochai's "crab fu" won the crown;

Guiyin sits with a curtain, and Chang 'an looks forward to Chongyang.

There is no latitude and longitude in the road ahead, and the skin is black and yellow in spring and autumn.

Chrysanthemum should also be used before washing wine, and ginger is needed to prevent cold accumulation.

What are the benefits of falling into the kettle today? Yuepu has surplus grain and millet fragrance.

This is a satirical poem with strong writing and sharp words. Ironically, the greedy and vulgar people in the world. Jude vividly described the ugliness of ordinary people in the world with the phrase "there is no latitude and longitude in front of him, and the skin is black and yellow in spring and autumn" Even Baoyu couldn't help shouting "Good scolding!" After reading it, the sisters all said, "This is the swan song of eating crabs! Only when you have a general idea of these small topics can you be considered a great genius. Just satirizing the world is too poisonous. " If such a poem is named Princess Xiaoxiang, if Chai Dai meets a critic, she will certainly get a treasure and praise her "rebellion" and "valuable fighting spirit". However, the author did not attribute it to "Lin Xiaoxiang", but unexpectedly attributed it to "Wu", and in return, he wrote the book "Xue Heng Wu's Satire and Crab Singing", which is undoubtedly a wonderful irony to those critics. No choice, these critics had to settle for the second best, misinterpreting this poem as Baochai's "mocking the rebels such as Baoyu and Daiyu to win the favor of feudal rulers." However, it is clearly stated in the novel that Baoyu read this poem and shouted "Good scolding!" Will he scold himself? Chai Dai is increasingly unrealistic to the arguer.

In fact, Baochai is not that kind of snob, nor is she an aspirant who is bent on climbing up. On the contrary, her heart is still a clean and elegant world, and she has an instinctive aversion to the greed and ruthlessness of this world. She once said to Daiyu, "It's good for men to read and understand. Now I have never heard of such people, and reading is even worse." It was this book that missed him, but it was a pity that he also ruined the book. "(42nd time) This is the psychological motivation of her writing Ode to a Crab. In real life, Baochai's abandonment of filth really made her familiar with the tricks of the family and did not become vulgar. Even when she helped Tanchun manage the family, she could not forget the "common custom" full of advantages and disadvantages of money, and drew a clear line: "You have only been talented for two days, and you are insatiable and think of Master Zhu vainly. Tanchun listened to Baochai's words with a grain of salt, saying only that she would take part in the world affairs and mind her own business. "。 He put aside worldly affairs and talked about the ways of "all" and "self". Li Wan said with a smile, "You are not invited to do business, but to talk about learning. Baochai said, "Learning is business. At this moment, if you study small things, small things will get higher and higher. Not mentioning learning has become a vulgar thing. " (Back to 56)

As for the sentence cited as "criminal evidence", "Good winds send me to Qingyun by their own strength", it is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Imagine, if Baochai's "Catkin Ci" shows such a vulgar and rough spiritual realm, how can the sisters be "amazing"? In the 70th episode of A Dream of Red Mansions, after the catkin Ci Society finished writing, the story of a girl flying a kite was immediately inserted. That kite is also "good wind, relying on strength, send me to Qingyun". Aren't all the people in the Grand View Garden snobs? In fact, the "Qingyun" here does not refer to fame and fortune, but refers to a cheerful and open-minded spiritual realm. Take the meaning of "clouds and flowing water in the sky" and "windward by the sea". It's just Fu's "I like the clouds moving, and the quiet things are gratifying" and Wei's "I'm proud and light, and I'm interested in prosperity in the wind". The so-called "young and rootless, the good wind sent me to Qingyun Mountain" means that with the rising youthful vitality of the Grand View Garden, we can put aside the ridicule and fetters of foreign objects and reach the spiritual realm of detachment and joy! People marvel at Baochai because she expresses the good wishes of the ideal pursuer. In this way, the novel has changed from a sad catkin ci society to a description of kite music. Everything is so natural. However, Chai Dai didn't know the real solution of the arguer and insisted on that set of shallow and vulgar explanations. Really "don't regret your ignorance, but insult people with ugly words."

The seventh reflection: Baochai's cleanliness addiction

Don't think that only Daiyu has cleanliness, and don't take "lead an honest and clean life, and don't teach dirty ditches" as the only holiness. Baochai's poem "Bai Hai Tang Yong" (the thirty-seventh time) won the first prize in the poetry club, which is a noble oath for her and Daiyu.

During the day, cherish Fang Zi and cover the door, and join hands with the urn to fill the moss basin.

Rouge washes away the shadow of the autumn stage, and ice and snow attract dew to build the soul.

You know that flowers are brighter when you are pale, but how can you get jade without trace when you are worried?

If you want to pay for Bai Di, you should be clean. If you don't talk about Tingting, you will faint.

You see, Bai Haitang in the poem is elegant and clean, and her soul is icy, and the lady who "cherishes beauty" and "holds the urn" is not the embodiment of Baochai herself?

Wu Heng Garden where Baochai lives also has a beautiful atmosphere:

When I entered Wu Heng Garden, I only felt a strange smell. Those strange herbs and vines are bearing fruit, drooping and lovely like coral bean. Entering the house is like a snow cave, there is nothing to play with. There is only one ceramic bottle in the box. There are several chrysanthemums in the bottle, as well as two books and teacups. There are only green curtains hanging on the bed, and the mattress is very simple. (40th time)

A Dream of Red Mansions is used to comparing things with people, which vividly depicts Wu Heng's indecent and extravagant features. Compared with Daiyu's bedroom, the pen, inkstone and bookcase are not like the "Miss Embroidery Room", but like the "excellent study room", and the outside of the house is "surrounded by bamboo and covered with moss", which is equally simple and quiet. Wu Heng Garden and Xiaoxiang Pavilion are both Yuan Fei's favorites. Doesn't it mean that their owners are noble nobles?

Reflection 8: Baochai's sadness

Daiyu's poems are famous for their sadness and lingering, so people think Baochai's poetic style is always dignified. But in fact, Baochai's poems are diverse in style. There are also many sad works. Please look at the poem "Yi Ju" in Chapter 38:

West wind worries, red and white worries.

There is no trace of the old garden in autumn, and Leng Yue has a dream of clearing the frost.

I miss my heart and go back to the wild goose. It is too late to sit and listen.

Who pities my thinness and comforts me goodbye?

This is a typical poem about missing his wife. As Tan Chun commented, the word "memory" is set off by "nothing in autumn" and "knowledge in dreams". "I miss my heart and go back to the wild goose. It's too late to sit on the anvil. " What sad acacia, blood and tears! "Yellow flowers are thin" comes from Li Qingzhao's "people are thinner than yellow flowers", which is exactly the same as the realm of "gaunt flowers cover gaunt people, flying flowers are tired and easy to dusk" in Daiyu's peach blossom tour.

Another time is Lantern Festival to do riddles. Baochai's riddle disappointed Jia Zheng, and he was very sad. He thought to himself, "it seems that people who say such ominous things at an early age have no longevity." (22) Back to its riddle:

Whoever brings two sleeves of cigarettes to the court will always miss the piano.

You don't need a chicken to raise money, and you don't need a maid to add it at midnight.

Jiao Shouchao returned to dusk, and his heart exploded day by day.

Time flies, we must cherish it, rain or shine will change.

The answer to this mystery is more fragrant. Baochai skillfully used the characteristics of "burning her head" and "frying her heart" to express her inner sadness and sorrow in a pun. It is worth noting that Chen Geng edition, Ji Mao edition and Cheng Gaojia edition (179 1 edition) all attributed this riddle to Baochai, but Cheng Gaoyi edition (1792 edition) wrongly attributed it to Daiyu, and added a riddle of Lady Zhu as Baochai's lantern riddle. Some commentators only saw that the craftsmanship was superior to others, and they boasted that The Mystery of More Fragrance showed how Daiyu was "sad" and formed a "sharp contrast" with how Baochai stood proudly in the spring breeze, but they just didn't know that Baochai should have written this mystery. Critics mistook Baochai's works for those of Daiyu and praised them greatly. This fact once again shows that there is no essential difference between Baochai and Daiyu.

Baochai's other riddle "The Mystery of Carving Tan" (the fiftieth time) and a set of instructions "The Storm Order" (the fortieth time) are also full of sad consciousness. Although there is no word "sadness" in the sentence "I have never heard of Brahma's chime", the scene of wind and rain has come to my face. The storm order directly used the words "three mountains and a half falling out of the sky" and "wind and rain everywhere". Among them, "Three mountains and a half fall into the sky" originated from Li Bai's "Climbing the Phoenix Terrace in Nanjing": "Three mountains and a half fall into the sky, like this egret is divided into Dao Jiang. A cloud rises between the light of heaven and me, hiding his city from my melancholy heart. " It also means "there are storms everywhere."

Look at "Parasitic Grass" (the 22nd time) which Baochai appreciated and enthusiastically recommended to Baoyu, and it is filled with the sad fog:

Tears of heroes, leaving Chu Shi's home. Thank mercy for shaving under the lotus stage.

In the blink of an eye, there is no way to separate, and naked people come and go and don't care.

Where can I ask for a roll of cigarettes and an umbrella? Any one of my shoes is broken!

"Parasitic Grass" is the lyric of Lu in the drama "Drunk Wutai Mountain", which expresses his sadness and disappointment when he was forced to leave the mountain gate. Supposedly, since Baochai is a "feudal lady", she should stay away from the loneliness and rebellious spirit of the characters in Water Margin. Baochai praised the Water Margin for its "good ostentation and extravagance, better words" and said that the "parasitic grass" was "wonderful". What does this mean? Is it the author's imagination or the reader's premise error? I'm afraid Baochai also has a sentimental side and is easily moved by such works.

Reflection 9: Questioning the Theory of "Ruthlessness"

There are obviously many words in the novel that express Baochai's girlish temperament, but she turns a blind eye to the arguer and just talks about how Baochai is "absolutely rational" and how she has a "super-stable mentality". An important reason is that they all have the foresight of Baochai's "cold heart". Where does this feeling come from? The old review played two "trump cards".

First, Baochai talks about the death of Jinchuan. The thirty-second time, Xu Baochai heard that Jinchuan had jumped into a well and died, so she came to comfort Mrs. Wang: "What is the right way to jump into a well? This is also strange. " Mrs. Wang said, "It was the day before yesterday that she broke one of my things. I got angry at that time, hit him a few times and kicked him out. Who knows that she jumped into the well with anger. Isn't it my fault? " Baochai sighed. "My aunt is a charity. Of course she thinks so. In my opinion, she didn't throw herself into the well in a rage, but mostly slipped and fell while playing by the well. Is there such an atmosphere? Even if there is such an atmosphere, it is just a confused person, which is not a pity. " Madam Wang said humanely, "I am uneasy after all." Baochai suggested that she wrap up her old clothes and make up. Baochai came back with clothes and found Baoyu sitting beside Mrs. Wang crying. Mrs. Wang was talking about him when Baochai came, but she kept silent. When Baochai saw this scene, she realized that she had sent clothes and left ... The old commentary believed that Baochai described Jin Chuaner's death as a slip of the foot, excusing Mrs. Wang, exposing the "ugly face of the exploiting class" and treating servants cruelly.

Second, the desert committed suicide, and the third sister who opposed you ran away with Liu Xianglian. Back to the sixty-seventh, Aunt Xue and Baochai talked about You Sanjie and Liu Xianglian. Baochai didn't care when she heard this, so she said, "As the saying goes,' There are unexpected events in the sky, and people have fortunes. "This is also the fate of their shangbeizi. My mother saved his brother the day before yesterday and discussed how to take care of him. Now that he's dead, he's gone. In my opinion, he is the only one left. Mom doesn't have to feel sorry for them. It's the guys who went to Jiangnan with their brothers who have worked hard. They have been back for several months. My mother and my brother should discuss it. It's time to invite them and reward them. Don't let people look unreasonable. " In the old review, Liu Xianglian saved Xue Pan, but Baochai advised her mother not to be sad for him. It is ungrateful and heartless.

Looking at these two "trump cards" alone, it seems that there is only a conclusion. As long as Chai Dai throws them on the table smartly, she can rest easy. Baochai, on the other hand, is in a hopeless situation: since she insists on being "cold-hearted", those tenderness and enthusiasm are hypocritical and insidious. If you think like this, you will become more and more "cold" and finally "creepy"

But, wait! The "creepy" thing in A Dream of Red Mansions also happened to other girls. For example, Daiyu's "criminal evidence" is much more than Baochai's.

Back to the seventy-ninth, Baoyu sacrificed Qingwen, and Daiyu served the daughter of Furong. Baoyu was very sad, but Daiyu didn't feel a little sad for Qingwen's death. Instead, she talks about words and phrases with a smile on her face. Baoyu proposed that the article "Red Yarn" be recorded, and his son was affectionate. In Huangtuling, the daughter was unlucky, and it was changed to "Miss is affectionate under the screen window, and the maid is unlucky in Huangtuling", which was counted as Daiyu's obituary to Qingwen, but Daiyu flatly rejected Baoyu's "affectionate": "She is not my maid, so why use this language? It's not too late for me to talk about this when the nightingale dies. " According to the same standard, is this a "cold heart"?

The forty-fourth time, Baoyu stole to Shuiyue Temple and burned incense and offered gold cymbals on Xifeng's birthday. When I came back, I was ridiculed by Daiyu. She borrowed the story of throwing herself into the river and said to Baochai, "This king doesn't make sense either. No matter where you sacrifice, you must come to the river to do something! " In her opinion, the death of Jin Chuan is nothing, and Baoyu's sacrifice to her is completely unnecessary.

The most obvious thing is that in the eighty-second chapter of Cheng Gaoben, Xiren and Daiyu discussed the abuse and forced death of Xiangling and Second Sister You. Aroma was filled with emotion: "I think they are all the same person, but their birthright is a little different." Why is it so poisonous? " Daiyu disagreed: "It's hard to say. But in family affairs, either the east wind overrides the west wind, or the west wind overrides the east wind. " The implication is that Xiangling and Second Sister You are not only "not a pity", but should be unlucky. Aroma was so scared that she quickly explained, "Being a neighbor scares me. How dare I bully others? " By this standard, Baochai is "cold-hearted", but isn't Daiyu "cruel"?

Daiyu's attitude towards Granny Liu is also "cold". Not only did she disrespect the old rural lady, but she also took the lead in making fun of her. Seeing that Granny Liu had a big appetite, she said, "What kind of grandmother is she? Just call her' mother locust'. " (Forty-second time) Seeing Granny Liu dancing with joy, she said, "On that day, all the animals danced in unison, and now only the ears of cows are left." (4 1 back) Until the banquet that Grandma Liu helped to hold was compared to "eating with locusts" (42). Is this "the ugly face of the exploiting classes"?

Similarly, Tan Chunmo treated Aunt Zhao, and Xichun insisted on expelling her from the painting. Qingwen caught Zhui Er and used corporal punishment, which was not only "cold-blooded" but also "cruel". According to this calculation, aren't the daughters of the Red Chamber "hard-hearted"? Then why should the author praise them, praise them, and sing praises for Zhao Chuan in the Boudoir?

In fact, it is human nature that relatives are hot and people are cold. No matter how compassionate a person is, he can't be full of love for everyone: absolute fraternity can only be God's virtue. Usually, the first people to sympathize with are always those who are close to them: relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbors and people around them. Compassion for strangers is based on full emotional contact. Either see his misfortune with your own eyes, or appreciate his suffering more vividly through other channels (such as rumors, books, newspapers and videos). I'm afraid it's hard to resonate just by its name but not its shape. The so-called "compassion", without "compassion", how can there be "compassion"? Therefore, the "image principle" is a basic law of mankind.