Li Xuelian under the lens of Feng Xiaogang - Wei Lianshu described by Lu Xun

I have been watching Xu Zhiyuan's program "Thirteen Invitations" for the past two days. One of the episodes is Xu Zhiyuan talking to Feng Xiaogang. The conversation between them was about their understanding of Li Xuelian, the character in the movie "I'm Not Pan Jinlian". After listening to this passage, I suddenly thought of Lu Xun's "The Lonely" Wei Lianshu. What is the connection between the two?

Feng said this in the show: Why did Li Xuelian hang herself? What's the real reason? It's not that her complaint became a joke, her husband died and the chain of complaints was broken, and she can no longer complain in the future. She can no longer complain or go through any trouble. This is her deep-seated reason. For example, the meaning of A's existence is to oppose B. Suddenly B no longer exists. She suddenly feels that the thing she opposes the most no longer exists, and she feels worthless.

In "The Lonely", Wei Lianshu works as a history teacher in S City and often writes articles "discussing about society and history." Wei Lianshen's comments were as unique and profound as his usual speech, and "without scruples". For example, "Families often say that families should be destroyed." This can easily offend the public, be regarded as an alien, and lead to loneliness. He is full of enthusiasm and cares about the society, but he is not understood by the society, so that he runs into obstacles everywhere. But despite this, Wei Lianshu still lives according to his ideal way.

But why did Wei Lianshu commit suicide?

First of all, his only relative (grandmother) died, which meant that he lost his spiritual hometown forever. This is the basis of his loneliness.

Secondly, forced by life, he gave up his principles, surrendered to society, and became an aide to the warlord Commander Du. In the words of Wei Lianshu, "I have failed - but I have won." From a secular perspective, Wei Lianshu succeeded, but from the perspective of his own ideals and principles as a human being, he fell into huge contradictions and pain. What he deals with every day are those "new guests, new gifts, new praises, new camps, new kowtows and bows..." He feels lonely in these bustles that are not what he wants. .

The meaning of Wei Lianshu's life is to resist what he hates. When one day the things he resists no longer exist, or even he is accepted and assimilated by the things he has been resisting, at this time he falls into a huge spiritual state. Disparity and mental dilemma. This is the ultimate meaning of loneliness that Lu Xun wants to convey. As Wei Lianshu said in the original article: "My abomination sometimes makes me feel that even if I give up drinking and take cod liver oil in the hope of prolonging my life, it is not all for my lover, but mostly for my enemies.—— Tell them to be decent and treat them as enemies - leaving some flaws in his good world." Therefore, Wei Lianshu's experiences in society pushed his loneliness to the extreme, and he slowly became lonely. It broke his own heart and led to the tragedy of suicide.

Thus, a person's deepest loneliness is by no means simply unaccompanied, but the loss of spiritual attachment. Regardless of whether this attachment is positive dependence or oppositional struggle, people can find some value of existence. When attachment is gone, the value of human existence also disappears, and it is very likely to reach the edge of despair and jump into the abyss.

Some time ago, photographer Deer Dawson finally chose to commit suicide. I think to a large extent it was because he lost all attachments. He went into the abyss of loneliness and finally chose to give up life.

When the weight of mental suffering is greater than the weight of life, life will naturally be abandoned.

So in this chaotic world, you have to find some attachment that belongs to your own life.