From “Iron House” to “Sorghum Field”: A Comparison of the Fate Trajectory and Spiritual Dilemma of Lu Xun and Mo Yan’s Rural Characters

As two peaks of rural writing in the history of modern and contemporary Chinese literature, Lu Xun laid the spiritual foundation for modern rural literature through profound critiques of national character, while Mo Yan expanded the aesthetic dimension of rural writing with narratives brimming with wild vitality.Though separated by nearly a century, both have formed a timeless resonance in their contemplation of rural China.This study examines Xianglin Sao and Nuan from Lu Xun's "Blessing" and Mo Yan's "White Dog and the Swing" as research subjects, exploring the differences in character spiritual construction across temporal contexts through spatial criticism theory and textual comparison.By investigating the disciplinary space of Luzhen and the wild growth space of Northeast Gaomi Town-ship through spatial characteristics, it reveals their intrinsic influence on characters' life trajectories and spiritual worlds.The differences between the two works reflect variations in rural writing across eras, collectively constituting the eternal theme of "trauma and resilience" in Chinese rural literature.