Lao She once quoted Thackeray in his article "On Humor": "The writer of humor is to awaken and guide your love, compassion, and goodwill - your hatred is not real, Pretend, fake - your sympathy with the weak, the poor, the oppressed, the unhappy."

Lao She also made it clear: "I lost the irony and gained the humor. Sympathetic." Therefore, Lao She's humor is not just for fun or ridicule, but also contains his philosophy and compassion.

First of all, concern and sympathy for the fate of poor people is an important theme in Lao She's novels.

Extended information

Most of Lao She's works are based on citizens' lives. He is good at depicting the life and destiny of the urban poor, and is especially good at portraying the conservative and backward middle- and lower-class citizens who are soaked in feudal patriarchal concepts, in the midst of national conflicts and class struggles, and under the impact of new historical trends. The ambivalence of confusion, hesitation, loneliness, and the ridiculous behavior of being in a dilemma and at a loss.

He likes to reflect common social conflicts through ordinary scenes, and his brushstrokes often extend to the exploration of the national spirit or the reflection on the destiny of the nation, allowing people to taste the severity and heaviness of life through lightness and humor. The brightly colored rendering of natural scenery and the meticulous description of customs and human feelings add to the life and interest of the work.

Baidu Encyclopedia——Lao She