Critique of Western Modernity in Mo Yan’s Change

Abstract

This research looks into Mo Yan’s Change from the perspective of nonwestern modernity. From the time of communist takeover till now, China attempts to develop its own unique mode of modernity. Within a decade, China succeeds in bringing plenty of reforms and progressive transformations. In Mo Yan’s Change, thousands of schools are opened within a decade after the communist takeover. Even the youths from poor economic background get opportunities to go to universities. The narrator’s brother once used to think that university is beyond his reach. But he not only completed university education but got a job too. As China appeared as a self-sufficient country, it witnesses various examples of violence. Tiananmen Square tragedy is the worst case of disaster that has ever occurred on the soil of China. The communist dictatorship of China does not allow its citizens to ask for human rights, democracy and individual’s right to properties. In Tiananmen Square, youths mount protest for democracy. The one party regime launches heavy crackdown on them. The tragedy of Tiananmen Square is an instance of how the penetration of western modernity like political liberalism throws country into the turmoil and chaos. The glorious Gaz 51 Truck which has a long history and glory, everybody longs to be a truck driver, eventually becomes a mockery. The historical Truck is sold to the film crew, so it has no prestige and value on the latter part of the novel. The farmers and school teachers have changed their lifestyles and profession. These all changes are the justification of how the western norms and values directly adopted by non-western countries, it is doomed to create undesirable results.