A study on the tragedy for the Xiao Hong's short stories: Focusing on “Wangasujeoksa”, “Gyo”, and “Soseongsamwol”

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the tragic elements in the short stories “Wangasujeoksa,” “Gyo,” and “Soseongsamwol” by Xiao Hong. All three works connect their characters to the tragedy of death. This reflects how, despite China's attempts at new progress and innovation through the Xinhai Revolution and the May Fourth Movement in the early 20th century, lower-class women remained in poverty and became victims of an irrational social structure. This study aims to examine the tragedy in Xiao Hong's short stories within the unique historical context of China's modern and contemporary era. In particular, her short stories such as “Wangasujeoksa,” “Gyo,” and “Soseongsamwol” depict characters who, amidst the backdrop of China's transition during the modern and contemporary era, all meet tragic ends, succumbing to poverty, despair, misfortune, and suffering. Therefore, it seeks to explore the tragedy in the context of Chinese modern history by examining Xiao Hong's tragic worldview, her consciousness of tragedy, and the tragic experiences of her characters. If the previous research analyzed the tragedy in Xiao Hong's mid-length novels, this study focuses on the tragedy depicted in Xiao Hong's short stories within the context of modern and contemporary China. This research aims to find ways to study Xiao Hong's short stories from various perspectives.