Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.2, 2019

The Theme of Bildung and the Representation of Reality in Shi Yifeng’s Novels

(Abstract)

Xu Yong

Obvious changes can be observed from Shi Yifeng’s novels in recent years, such as the solid texture and the grander momentum and scale. However, what remains unchanged and consistent in his novel writing is his handling of the relationship between the protagonist and the reality. The reality in his novels can be read as the reality in the sense of spiritual history. This also determines that his novels always take the individual bildung as a means of grappling with the broader reality. To a certain extent, the idiosyncratic significance and charm of his novel originate from this tension between the narrow focus and wide sight.