The May Fourth Movement Historical Context:-The Republic Revolution of 1911-“October Revolution” (1917)-“The Treaty of Versailles ” (1919)-The large-scale expression of Chinese nationalism -Borrow Western ideas as weapons to attack Confucian tradition-The problem: Denounce the didactic concept of “Literature conveys theWay/Dao”-The Way/Dao= the Confucian DogmaIconoclastic stance of New Youth (1915)-Anti-Confucian principle:1. Confucianism deprives society of its dynamic force (CP 210/114)2. Confucian dogma has lost its relevance3. Replace classical works with a new vernacular literatureThe irony in retrospect -The goal:-Set Chinese minds free of the old shackle:-Use literature in much the same way of utilitarian nature:-The critical issue：-The way was more important than literature:Confucian dogma is replaced by iconoclastic MarxismRethink the dominant Discourse1. It has undermined the Confucian dogma2. It totalistic approach promotes a break with the past at the expense of theheritage-The culture tradition is not unified3. Modernity is not be determined by party politicsLu Xun-He has become a defied writer-The myth has restrained interpretive explorat ions of his work-The May Fourth intellectual is caught in a dilemma“Preface to the First Collection of Short Stories Call to Arms”-What is his initial dream (CP 218/2)-What has means to change the national spirit?-“The Iron
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