Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.1, 2021

The Artistic Expression of Life in Theater—On Chen Yan’s Fiction

(Abstract)

Zhong Haibo

Chen Yan’s novels have opened up a new theme in contemporary literature, giving the reader a glimpse into the life of Shaanxi opera actors and the backstage. His novels reveal the ideals of human existence and the beauty of human nature in ordinary daily life, and are permeated with life wisdom and philosophy. His works are mainly daily narratives, but the ordinary and mundane life is also full of legends. The plots of the novels are vivid and meandering, the fate of the characters fluctuates, and the language, being elegant and colorful, takes on personal and regional features.