The Sense of Bleakness in Eileen Chang’s Works: Taking “Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier” and “The Golden Cangue” as examples

Abstract

Eileen Chang is a famous modern female writer, and the study of the sense of bleakness in her works is one of the important topics. However, the author finds that there are fewer studies on this aspect, and there is a lack of comprehensive explanation on the various factors that constitute the sense of bleakness. Therefore, this paper takes Eileen Chang’s works “Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier” and “The Golden Cangue” as examples to analyze how the sense of bleakness is manifested in various aspects. The research methods of this paper are as follows: by reading relevant literature, generalizing the issues under study, comparing and analyzing the similarities and differences in the embodiment of the sense of bleakness in the two texts, and searching for potential connections. It is found that the sense of bleakness in the two works is evident in the interpersonal relationship, the fate of the character and the environmental atmosphere of the story. The three factors are intertwined and interact with each other to create a strong sense of bleakness in Eileen Chang’s works.