In Medicine, Lu Xun uses symbolism to criticize feudalism in China. There are two themes in the story: First, Little bolt’s parents spend a bundle of money to buy a mantou with blood of executed man to cure his tuberculosis. Second, revolutionist Xia Yu is executed and his blood is used to make medicine (mantou with blood) to cure little bolt.
Little bolt symbolizes a sick society where people believe “mantou soaked in human blood is a guaranteed cure for any kind of T.B” (256). When Little bolt is eating mantou in tea shop, crowds keep saying “Guaranteed cure! Guaranteed!” but Little bolt is getting worse and died at the end. Tuberculosis is incurable during that time period, it represents the society is very sick and incurable. People in feudal society are benighted and superstitious.
On the left side of Little bolt’s graveyard lie the body of Xia Yu, a revolutionist who has been executed. He died for the benefits of public, but ironically, his blood was used as medicine to cure the diseases. Moreover, his story becomes hot topic in the tea shop, people don’t understand him rather making fun at him, saying his words “The Great Manchu Empire belongs to all of us” (257) is crazy talk. The whole story reflects people’s ignorance and incomprehension of the importance of revolution.
One thing I noticed about two characters in Medicine is that putting together Little bolts’ last name “Hua” and Xia Yu’s last name “Xia” can form a word “Huaxia”, which is an ancient name for China. I believe this represents Lu Xun’s idea and support of revolution of China in 20th century.
One question is raised when I was reading the story is that who put flowers on Xia Yu’s mound?
I like the way how the author criticizes the feudal system through cannibalistic preference. Describing the hardships of China and its people through a Diary, it’s takes me back to their age.
I agree with what you’ve written here, I think Xun very intelligently designs the story around China’s transition in the early 20th century. The fact that both characters are buried in the same site and combine to have the old name for China show how the society is changing and that there are many things that people have to move on forever. I felt Little-Bolt’s tragic illness, and then eventual death, is symbolic as readers were presented a promise of recovery yet he dies young and is buried in the end.