Diary of a Madman

Allusions are references to an object or subject that exists outside the text. They rely on readers’ prior knowledge to enhance emotion or clarify significance. Mr. Gu is an allusion to the Chinese character “Gu,” which is not only a family name but also means “olden times” or “antiquity.” Mr. Gu is a character who never appears in the text; he is only mentioned by the “madman” as a man whom he exploited long ago.

Mr. Gu’s exploitation by the “madman” alludes to the historical plight of villagers at the hands of government officials and village leaders. While the “madman” admits his wrongdoing, he also justifies it by saying it was “long ago,” attempting to diffuse the blame for historical oppression. The theme of historical weight on current problems is further explored by the “madman’s” reading of history, as well as the relationship between injustice and generations.

Imagery is a technique that writers use to paint pictures in readers’ minds so they can more easily imagine a story’s situations, characters, emotions, and settings. The text uses animal imagery, specifically dogs, wolves, and hyenas, to illustrate how humans can change their primitive ways. Wolves and hyenas are dangerous wild animals that feed on the flesh of others. Dogs, on the other hand, are loyal members of the family. Lu Xun invokes the theory of evolution to argue that just as hyenas and wolves may evolve to be dogs, so too may humans evolve to be better versions of themselves.

If humans fail to change, the “madman” argues, others who are more advanced may come along and eradicate those who refuse to change with the times. Evolution operates both as a means to elicit change within society but also as an admonition of Chinese culture. Lu Xun looks abroad to foreign ideas of science to diagnose and treat the social ills he sees within his own society.