Abstract
In this article, I chose the Japanese colonial period writer Chen Chui Ying as a study subject during the time when Taiwanese literature was yet under discussed. I use one of his novels “Warm current, Cold current” and novella “Flame Flower” as the main topic, by looking through the eye of students overseas, Chen was meant to deliver the social aspect and moral messages behind his literal expression. I divided my research into five separate chapters; the first chapter is the introduction, the fifth is the conclusion, the second chapter is Chen’s biography and his analytical work, chapter three is mainly focused on Chen’s novel “Warm current, Cold current”, and chapter four is the detailed analysis for the novella “Flame Flower” Chen’s masterpieces were mainly created in his younger age during the Japanese colonial period. Most of his works were related to the “LOVE” themes which showed that new intellectual generation had a positive belief towards youthful, romantic thinking and the social revolution. He didn’t have much work left after the war time, only some traces left for pop song lyrics and economic criticism. By looking through Chen Chui Ying‘s two pieces of work, I found out that they share common point like overly idealized social model. In “Warm Current Cold Current”, he used “cold current” to represent the two main factors that were causing the miserable life of the Taiwanese: colonial economy deprivation from the outside and influence of feudal ideology from the inside. By using “warm current”, it symbolized the hope of Taiwan: new intellectual generation’s rational thinking and help for each other. Chen Chui Ying’s “Warm Current Cold Current” is a self reflection of the feudal-minded characteristic, an inner debate for the shady life of students overseas, and also an outward judgment towards an irrational colonial structure and material capitalism. In “Flame Flower”, Chen used “Flame Flower” to embody the straight-forward, aggressive, brave and strong virtues of the Taiwanese women. He used his soft, warm, and gentle touch of writing depicting the life stories of three women. He expected all the women from Taiwan can be like them: to break out from the boundaries of etiquette, free from the shackles of unfortunate marriage and live a happy life. The two different things between the novels are that “Warm Current Cold Current” emphasized on the social responsibilities for students overseas while “Flame Flower” further extended this idea and make it more about male, female’s independent marital, economical choices, and the awakening of their emotional freedom. I found out that what attracts Chen’s eyes was: a new age women with new education, new ideas, and a stable career. In his opinion, women as the weakest link should receive education and pursue freedom in all ways; get rid of controls of the elder family and fellow males, to become an individual being. To sum it up, Chen portrayed a world that very rare people shared and it was related to his background. Chen’s family is very wealthy, he went a prestigious school and had a life experience overseas, the group he cared about was pretty unique. Unlike other folk writers like Chang Wen Huan that illustrated farmers and the underdogs in the society, the farmers in Chen’s eyes were nothing but a hallow shadow. But with his passionate, fortunate, humorous, and up-beat personality, he paid his happiness and positivity forward to everyone else. He successfully achieved his personal goal, also established a unique position of literature.