An Analysis of Chen Bailu's Self-Destruction in Sunrise from the Perspective of Psychoanalysis
Abstract
In the development of Chinese drama in the 20th century, Cao Yu's Sunrise depicted the dark society of the 1930s, witnessing the process of Chen Bailu, who was both clear-headed and compassionate, sinking into the quagmire and heading for self-destruction. It has become a classic work with its profound social criticism and complex portrayal of character psychology. This article explores from the perspective of psychoanalysis and finds that first of all, Chen Bailu's decline was dominated by the principle of happiness of the "ego". However, she could never escape the judgment of the superego. The passing of the pure era and the self-indulgence and decadence kept her constantly being judged by her inner morality. The failure to redeem the little things only intensified her own pain. The consumption of her spirit, the weariness brought by life, and the experience of nothingness made Chen Bailu's death instinct explode. Through self-destruction, she achieved ultimate liberation from her own painful existence. The oppression of cultural traditions under social predicaments also contributed to the formation of Chen Bailu's spiritual predicament. Multiple psychological factors eventually led to her destruction. Studying Chen Bailu's self-destruction in Sunrise from the perspective of psychoanalysis can offer a new approach to exploring the complexity of Chen Bailu's personal image, provide a new case for delving into the study of dramatic characters from a psychoanalytic Angle, and offer a new entry point for understanding the social reality of the 1920s and 1930s.
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