TITLE:
A Study on the Reincarnation of Characters’ Fates in Lu Xun’s Narratives from the Perspective of Wandering
AUTHORS:
Wei Qian, Kangmei Yao, Xingyi Xiao, Xinning Sha
KEYWORDS:
Wandering, Lu Xun’s Narratives, Reincarnation of Fates, Group Portraits of May Fourth Youth, Spatial Circulation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.5,
May
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study employs the method of close textual analysis, selecting representative works from Lu Xun’s Wandering to explore the structural characteristics of “the reincarnation of characters’ fates” in his narratives. Previous studies have predominantly focused on technical dimensions of Lu Xun’s narratives, such as narrative perspective, chronological sequence, and emotional expression, while paying insufficient attention to the sense of fate reincarnation embedded in character portrayals—particularly lacking research that examines both the reincarnation of individual fates and the interconnections between the fates of different characters. Although Professor Yang Hua proposed the concepts of “closed-loop structure” and “fate circulation” for the protagonists in Shangshi (Regret for the Past), he failed to clarify the transmission process and implications of the fates among the three protagonists. The “reincarnation of fates” as defined in this study refers to the repetitive dilemmas manifested in an individual’s life trajectory, as well as the transmission and superposition of fate patterns between different characters. It encompasses not only the cyclical repetition of individuals in terms of space and circumstances but also the continuity and influence of the logical relationships underlying characters’ fates. This concept extends beyond the limitations of Professor Yang Hua’s “closed-loop structure”—which solely centers on the return of a single character’s fate from its endpoint to its starting point—and addresses the deficiency of his framework in accounting for connections between multiple characters’ fates. By exploring the dual dimensions of individual reincarnation and inter-character reincarnation, this study more comprehensively presents Lu Xun’s holistic reflections on characters’ fates during the ebb tide of the May Fourth Movement. Taking Shangshi (Regret for the Past) as the starting point and integrating other works from Wandering, this study conducts an analysis of the implications of individual fate reincarnation and the reincarnation of fates between characters. It explicates Lu Xun’s portrayal of group portraits of perplexed, lonely, and progressive figures in the era of the May Fourth Movement’s ebb tide, further explores the multiple connotations of fate reincarnation, and provides supplementary insights for research on the characteristics of Lu Xun’s narratives.