DISCLOSING THE INTRICATE ASPECTS OF CHINESE SOCIETY IN YAN LIANKE’S SERVE THE PEOPLE!

Abstract

A study of Chinese literature would be lacking without acknowledging the significant
contributions of Yan Lianke, a highly acclaimed writer. Lianke is renowned for his
examination of the human condition and his adeptness at portraying the intricacies of life and
societal structures in his artistic creations. Lianke’s novel, Serve the People!, is a captivating
story that examines the Chinese Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and investigates the
significant influence of government policies on the general population. This paper seeks to
assess the characters in the novel and examine its theme, which involves the clash between
individual ambitions, societal duties, inequalities, injustices, and the corrupting power of
riches, ambition, and the consequences of political instability. The story depicts an
unexpected sexual liaison between a soldier and a woman, emphasizing the divergent beliefs
of traditional and modern China. The study examines how Lianke adeptly conveys a message
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Review of International Geographical Education
©RIGEO, Volume 11, (12), Dec 2021
of hope and freedom to the audience, even in the face of prevalent circumstances of
repression. Lianke employs comedic elements to highlight the prevailing socioeconomic
issues that China is presently grappling with. This paper intends to illustrate how the novel
Serve the People! serves as a powerful reminder of the need to defend one’s beliefs and the
right to freedom in the midst of persecution.