It seems profound but meaningless to freeze on the issue of human nature in such a hurry; It belongs to right nonsense. This paper tries to find out the characteristics of these murders, and then sort out the clues and discuss the cultural and historical conclusions related to the image of Xifeng.
Obviously, there is a * * feature in these personal murders related to Xifeng: they are related to love and marriage. Let's get a clear idea. Let's learn about Xifeng's view of marriage and love first. In the feudal arranged marriage, Xifeng and Jia Lian were happy.
Jia Wang's two families are caring for each other; Although Jia Lian is not a handsome gentleman, he is also charming and capable. Therefore, the marriage between Xifeng and Jia Lian is basically suitable. The book also revealed that the marriage life of Xifeng and Jia Lian was more equal, harmonious and interesting.
Judging from Xifeng's very strong temperament, she should advocate monogamous marriage and respect gender equality. She can't hide any betrayal from Jia Lian, and it's hard for her to tolerate Pinger. There is also a secret in the book: three of her four maids have died inexplicably, leaving Pinger.
Pinger is very cautious when getting along with Jia Lian, and tries to follow the meaning of Xi Feng. Pinger is really not easy. This phenomenon shows from the side that Xifeng is very concerned about her equal relationship with Jia Lian and will not tolerate interference from others.
Feng was born with a clear mind, and she has a sense of freedom and love. Therefore, women like Xifeng generally don't have abnormal feelings. If there is a romantic story, it should come from the true feelings, and it has absolutely nothing to do with fornication.
I think the so-called culture of Confucianism is very strange, almost based on human nature and morality, but it has never eliminated the ancient and primitive law of animal jungle.
All kinds of moral classics advocated by Confucianism only regard women as the object of sexual venting. For example, several related articles by Mr. Lu Xun pointed out that it is useless for men to drink three whips of wine and fresh deer blood, and they should continue to be obedient to women; The way of fishing for color is regarded as the method of keeping healthy and longevity. Are you busy?
Therefore, as a result of moral culture, it is easy to turn yourself into a lewd culture. As a smart and capable woman, Xifeng has similar ideas of advocating free love and equality between men and women, which should be the fundamental reason for her hatred of Jia Rui, many girls and Second Sister You.
When this theory comes out, some people may refute it: Isn't there such innocence between Xifeng and Jia Rong, Jia Qiang and Baoyu?
I think gossip is boring.
Judging from Xifeng's temperament and natural nobility, Baoyu's philanthropic thought and unique friendship character may attract her. But Xifeng may not value Jia Rong and Jia Qiang.
There seems to be something unknown between Feng and Rong Qiang in the book, but this is obviously a private economic activity and has nothing to do with gossip. After Qin Keqing's death, Xifeng was puzzled by Qin Keqing's sudden death and had been uneasy. Qin Keqing's dream before his death can be used as relevant evidence.
The close relationship between Xi and Rong Qiang is to find out the truth of Qin Keqing's scandal death through them. If we infer from the perspective of Mr. Liu's piano studies, there should be an important thing going on in the dark between Xifeng and Rong and Qiang, that is, raising money for the former generation of Taigu by gambling and paying the bill.
If so, wouldn't that be an advantage of Xifeng's career? Don't talk too much. Let's sort out the similarities and differences of these murders first, and then find out the reasonable cause and effect.
I. The Jia Rui case
As far as Gary is concerned, I made a special argument earlier. Although Jia Rui's story is a bit abrupt with the overall situation, it is actually the cultural conclusion of A Dream of Red Mansions. It is very important to know Cao Xueqin's ultimate taste. Now you can be sure of three things:
1, Jia Rui is deeply poisoned by Confucian slave culture, but in his bones he regards women as the object of fornication; It doesn't have the nature of love for women like Jia Baoyu and Liu Xianglian. Therefore, Jia Rui's conduct, behavior and performance made Feng very annoying. Although it is not the death penalty, it can be punished. If someone thinks that Xifeng did this because she looked down on Gary's poverty; Then, why did Xifeng take such care of Jia Yun, who was ambitious and enterprising?
2. Ignoring the essence of feudal education; As the director of Jia's family school, Jia Rui's poor conduct and performance in the school have destroyed education, ignored rules and regulations, misled children, and regarded the future and destiny of the family as a child's play. From this perspective, as the leader in charge, Xifeng will hate Jia Rui even more. What Gary did at school is tantamount to dereliction of duty and perverting the law, and should be punished as a major crime. Ordinary readers always think that Jia Rui's case was punished by Xifeng because of housework or lust. It really goes against the author's original intention, not to mention the attitude of reading and learning.
3. Take the political dark line of Mr. Liu's Qin Xue as the key link-I have inferred: Jia Rui's abnormal relationship with Baoyu at school through Qin Zhong and the extraordinary care of Qin Zhong by the owner of Jia Fu's second house; Maybe he already knows something about life in Qin Keqing. So, for the sake of the overall situation and keeping the secret of Qin Keqing's life, it is a kind of leadership wisdom for Xi 'an, the matriarch of this autocratic family, to keep him silent by killing Gary. No matter what the final outcome is, Xifeng's intention is the same as the maple syrup tea incident. Facts have proved that if Xifeng is at fault, the fundamental reason is the contradiction between orthodoxy and legalism under the emperor's totalitarianism.
If what I said before-Jia Rui expressed his loyalty to Xifeng and asked for a reward for quelling the "Jin Rong Qinzhong Incident" in the school; As a result, I couldn't hold back my wishful thinking, so I took advantage of Xifeng as capital and forced her to submit. Then Gary should die.
Therefore, in the case of Jia Rui, it is understandable that Xifeng decided to get rid of Jia Rui because she was worried about the secret of Qin Keqing's life. If it is wrong, the fundamental reason lies in the contradiction between various authoritarian systems and political hidden rules.
Second, the case of Zhang Jinge
The final result of Zhang Jinge's case has little to do with Xifeng's direct relationship. The reason for this is the following：
1, Zhang Jinge and the son of Chang 'an defenders are engaged; As far as the marriage system at that time was concerned, she was a married woman. Li's official's son "fell in love at first sight" with Zhang Jingue, and Zhang's parents wanted to cancel the contract with their former in-laws Chang 'an out of greed or fear, which was treacherous.
In the social background at that time, Zhang's parents first violated the moral marriage law. Therefore, it is natural for Chang 'an Garrison to sue the Zhang family for breach of contract through litigation. In other words, the reason why the Chang 'an Garrison sued the Zhang family was because the "breach of contract" of the Zhang family's parents had already occurred. Obviously, none of these things happened before had anything to do with Xifeng.
Li Yanzi took a fancy to Zhang Jinge who was engaged. Although it is probably wishful thinking, it contains a certain degree of free love. The situation has developed to the point of litigation: Li Guanjia wants to suppress Chang 'an garrison to accept Zhang's divorce through higher official relations-this nature is an incidental mediation operation form in civil litigation; To the greatest extent, it is the problem of "judicial corruption" in which power interferes with judicial independence.
Its root is the contradiction between feudal legal system and feudal orthodoxy; This is the biggest disadvantage of authoritarian society. It was after "calculating" this "organ" loophole between the rule of law and orthodoxy under totalitarian rule that Xifeng dared to accept property and participate in it. Xifeng's nature of collecting money and seizing power is similar to eating black; It is not directly related to other results caused by the outcome of this case. Let's put it another way: even if Xifeng didn't participate in this lawsuit, Zhang Jinge and her lover would die in a double suicide way because of their deep love.
3. Engagement is the biggest drawback of arranged marriage system; It is incompatible with human freedom. As far as this case is concerned, no matter who Zhang Jinge loves, she is a victim of the feudal arranged marriage system. Zhang Jinge's death was a struggle against feudal autocracy and feudal marriage system in order to safeguard his freedom of love and personal dignity. Of course, it is admirable and commendable.
Therefore, the tragic root of Zhang Jinge's case is the conflict between feudal orthodoxy, feudal legal system, feudal marriage system and social freedom thought; It really has nothing to do with Xifeng's intentional or indirect killing for money. Xifeng's role is only as a "person", as a litigant who secretly participates in mediation.
Third, the multi-girl case and the second sister you case.
The case of Duo Girl and the case of You Erjie eventually formed a murder case, which was mainly the result of Rong Ning and Fu Rong's continued struggle with the second time. Xifeng's successful murder of You Sanjie exposed the contradictions among various systems in totalitarian society and the drawbacks of various systems.
As mentioned many times in the previous discussion, here are only a few main points.
1. As mentioned above, Jia Lian's affair with many girls stems from Qiao Jie's illness. Qiaojie was ill for a long time, so she asked God for divination and said that she would fast for half a month, and Jia Lian was not allowed to sleep with Xifeng. Many girls are coquettish, lecherous and greedy for money. Jia Lian is just a physiological need and happy; And they hooked up again. This incident exposed the monotony of cultural activities under the autocratic system, and it was also the result of the long-term suppression of human desires by the feudal ethical system.
Many girls' husbands, Bao Er, were servants of Jia Zhen, the manager of Ningfu. Many girls are Jia Zhen's lovers. Xifeng secretly punished many girls, mainly to prevent the forces of Ningfu from infiltrating into Xiangfu. Therefore, Xifeng was very jealous and forced many girls to die on the grounds of borrowing things. Its essence is the secondary result of the struggle between Rong Ning and Fu Rong. Note: The same is true of the relationship between Duo Girl and Bao Er.
2. The marriage between Jia Lian and Second Sister You accords with polygamy in feudal society. First of all, there is a certain degree of free love between them emotionally; It is also because Xifeng is busy with housework, and the relationship between husband and wife is weak. Secondly, the patriarchal clan system in feudal society is the main factor.
Xifeng suffered from scarlet fever, and there was no hope of having children. Jia Lian's main excuse for stealing Second Sister You was that he preferred sons to daughters. Jia Lian's defense is reasonable in patriarchal society and authoritative under feudal marriage system; That is, the way of loyalty and filial piety advocated by Confucianism and Confucianism: there are three kinds of unfilial, none of which is great. For example, it is no exaggeration for Jia Lian to divorce Xifeng because of her children's problems. Unexpectedly, such a reason touched the secret pain of Xifeng; This also goes against her innate idea of freedom and equality.
3. Xifeng's method of murdering Second Sister You is sinister and diabolical. Her intention and motive should be revenge and declare war on patriarchy; It has certain treason and justice.
This is the main reason why we can realize that Cao Xueqin's pen is biased towards Xifeng in A Dream of Red Mansions.
Xifeng's murder plan was only realized by "calculating" the loopholes in the feudal ethics, marriage and patriarchal clan system; Moreover, there are almost no flaws.
If Xifeng was born with the concept of free love and marriage equality, then she is defending her due rights and dignity. Therefore, the essence of Sister You's case still stems from many anti-human sins and contradictions in various systems of feudal totalitarian society.
4. As the head of Jia's personal roots, Ningfu was promiscuous and shameless, which finally brought a devastating blow to Jia's family. When Feng gradually learned the secret of sudden death, he should be wary of the infiltration of Ningfu forces into the government from the perspective of family struggle and the different political investment directions of the two governments. Therefore, she will first treat Duonv and Second Sister You as enemies in her bones.
5. Sister You is the wife, sister and lover of Jia Zhen, the head of Jia family in Ningfu; Many girls are Jia Zhen's lovers. The reason why Xifeng hated them and secretly took their lives was always out of hatred for Ningfu. Besides family struggle, Feng's hatred of Ningfu also has a sense of justice-that is, Feng's regret for sudden death; In other words, she also hates Ningfu's revenge on Qin Keqing.
The relationship between Xifeng and Qin Keqing in Ningfu is the best, which is called Houmi in the book. Qin Keqing confided to her many heartfelt words that outsiders could not understand before she died; Later, on the night of her death, she asked Xifeng for a dream, which was more important to family governance and family future.
After You Sanjie committed suicide, Liu Xianglian ran away, and Xifeng repeatedly cheered when she heard the news, which showed that she hated Ningfu. Therefore, the origin and ending of the case of Duo Girl and You Erjie are mainly the continuation of the struggle between Rong Ning and Fu Rong. However, Xifeng did not intend to murder many girls and Second Sister You.
Note: Jia Rui's case, because it involves the confusion and complexity of feudal etiquette and patriarchal common sense, makes it difficult for readers to distinguish right from wrong. I'll explain the feature article about Gary later.
Tang Dou prodigal son returns, wave v. Red Chamber: On Xifeng