Mao Dun’s “Spring Silkworms”: Living Like Worms

Mao Dun’s (茅盾) 1932 short story “Spring Silkworms” (春蚕), the first of a three-part series known as Village Trilogy, is widely regarded one author’s most representative works. Given leftist politics and commitment to critical realism, has generated debate over its depiction Chinese peasantry extent which it condemns tradition in support revolutionary progress. This article contends that key ambiguity peasants’ lies fundamental questioning what human, underlies story’s overall ideological framework. Through close examination 1933 film adaptation, aims show how silkworms act metaphor for villagers themselves, who are dehumanized through their helplessness alienated labor. By reading human metaphorical worms, demonstrates they both exposed kind valueless “bare life” situated narrative pause historical materialist time, indicates space potential reconceptualization human. Ultimately, hopes push beyond didactic readings reveal an ontological anxiety at core.