The novel “Diary of a Madman” was written by Lu Xun, which he delivered his feelings about the Feudalism in ancient China. The words of a madman may not necessarily be false. The man wrote in his diary, “If they’re capable of eating me, then they’re capable of eating you too! Even within their own group, they think nothing of devouring each other.”(Lu Xun, p.251) He reflects that the ancient society was complicated. People are greedy and insidious. They do not know how to stand together to face problems but plot against each other. “Change from the bottom of your hearts!” This sentence is repeated twice. As a reader, we can see the protagonist’s hunger for change and his hatred on corruption. He knew that the only way to save human beings was to change themselves. However, he was labeled as a Madman. Who is going to listen and believe a word of a Madman? It’s useless!
The novel mentioned EAT PEOPLE again and again. PEOPLE symbolizes human nature. EAT can be interpret as destroy. Therefore, the real meaning that the author wants to deliver was the destruction of human nature that cause by the depraved society. At the end of the novel, the author concluded with “Save the children…” The ellipsis at the end of the sentence emphasizes the protagonist’s helpless voice. He believed that the children should be lighthearted. Unfortunately, they joined those who “eat people,” and they gradually become marble-hearted. The children should be the future of the country, but their simplicity was “killed” by the society.
Through the novel, we have seen the miserable of the Old China. In that society, people were living under complete darkness, which was totally lacked of justice. Compared to the lives today, how lucky we are, living with each other who DO NOT EAT PEOPLE…. appreciate what are we having now….
I agree with you. A mademan, who is he and who is going to listen to him. I believe that nobody cares about what he was saying because they only follow their interests not the interest of the others. Althus we have freedom today, but unfortunately there still unfairness in our societies, in many area of social institutions.
I also think we are lucky that live in a safe place, because as LU XUN mention, the main character also worry about that someone will eat him in someday. In here, we can know he was living in a danger place. In the end of the story , he told about that human was not only eat someone had not relative, they also ate their family member. In the story, he also said his younger sister might also eaten by his elder brother, and his mother might also knew this happen. After I read here, I feel they should not be human, they should be animal, because I think human should not done this cruel things for other human.