red chamber and dream

The paper contains a discussion of the novel Dream of the Red Chamber, as well as recognition and discussion of the various locations where the author seems to have developed feelings of anticipation, interest, and surprise in the reader's mind. The author's writing seeks to investigate how these emotions are formed as well as the expectations she had in mind before making them. The author used the three elements of writing skills to ensure that the story is oriented toward being read by a large audience and is as captivating as possible. The author of the novel has successfully utilized the writing skills to produce an excellent book that is interesting in the view of the reader. Suspense is that state of the user being suspended and has the effect of creating the spirit of anxiety in the minds of the reader while curiosity is that inquisitive interest the reader gets when he or she is reading a piece of work. Additionally, surprise defines an issue that is caused by something unexpected or unusual in a piece of writing. Remarkably in the novel, there are numerous instances that the author has used suspense, curiosity, and surprise with the sole intention of making his work look appealing to the audience. To sum it up, the author is motivated to include the three aspects of an excellent narrative so as to keep the readers glued to the book and to keep them inspired to read the story behind the plot of the novel. Therefore, the carefully crafted descriptions in the story together with suggestive statements are the standard tools that the author have used to propagate his agenda of creating a compelling narrative that is motivating for the audience to read.

The novel is a timeless classic story that was written by a renowned author named Cao Xueqin. The story is also known as the story of the stone and revolves around the rise and fall of the family of Chia. There is an intriguing drama behind the family history as it transits from riches to bankruptcy. There are four leading aristocratic families in the novel that go through ups and down. Remarkably, through the precise descriptions given by the author using suspense, curiosity, and surprise, he has been able to provide the audience with a deep and careful criticism of the Ching Dynasty’s economics, marriage, law, religion, education, culture, and politics. The attributes were typical of the superstructure of the Ching Dynasty which was the last dynasty in China (Xiugui 30). Notably, the reader feels motivated to continue reading the piece of work so as to feed his or her suspense. Therefore, suspense has the effect of prompting the audience to have the feeling of finding the novel interesting. Also, curiosity gives the audience the urge to know what transpired in the subsequent narration of the narrative. The aroused interest enables the reader not to keep away the novel until he or she finishes reading the last page of the story. Therefore, where an author uses the art of curiosity, the reader finds the work interesting to read. The feeling of surprise meets the audience when an event in a piece of writing happens unexpectedly, and the reader is stunned. The act gives the reader the urge to continue reading a novel or any other piece of writing with an expectation of many more surprises. In conclusion, the astonishments also have the effect of enabling the reader to confirm his or her guesses concerning the plot flow of a piece of writing. For that reason, at the end of a surprise occurrence in the narrative, the reader is full of information that he or she had no idea that it will be available.

Remarkably, the suspense is created at the introductory paragraph where the author states that the truth becomes fiction when fantasy becomes truth, and reality becomes not- real when the unreal becomes real. The contradicting statement at the onset of the novel has an effect of creating suspense in the minds of the reader. Suspense is also created when the Pao-yu changes his ways and decides to restore the reputation of his house. The narrator states that he suddenly decided to leave his wife and disappeared after the examination. Finally, there is suspense after the death of Chia Tai-Hua, and Chia-Ching took over leadership of his family (Liu and Yunzhong 57). The author states that despite his heart being set on a religious life, he relinquished his title to his son. Notably, the reader acquires the feeling of being unsure of what will transpire in the unfolding chapter of the novel and he or she gets the willingness to read more so as to unfold the puzzle. The audience gets the reaction of wishing to know more about the opposite of what is expected regarding truth, fiction, reality, and theoretical aspects of life. The feeling of uncertainty about the unique relationship of the four elements makes the reader want to read the novel to the last page and gain more knowledge of what seems confusing at the beginning. Pao-yu disappearance after the review and leaving his pregnant wife leaves the reader with the uncertainty of the fate of Pao-yu’s wife and the events that he will be involved in after the disappearance. Chia Ching has different ambitions in life, and the reader is left desiring to know how he will handle the situation. Therefore, the suspense of the reader is satisfied when Chia Ching gave his title to his son, Chia Cheng and he completely devoted his life to religion, hoping to become immortal. From the suspense created from the personal life drama of the characters, the reader gets prompted to continue reading the narrative.

Also, the uncertainty resulting from the introductory statements in the story, leave the reader with the feeling of requiring to have more information about the fallacy of the declarations through reading the novel to the last page. The suspense of Pao-yu future life is over when he is finally possessed by an evil spirit and Lady Chao and her son, plots his assassination. Also, the suspense created by the drama that followed the family of Chai Tai-Hua, motivated the reader to read more and have the knowledge of the subsequent events in the family successors (Xiugui 78). Therefore, the author has been able to employ suspense throughout the story continuously, and the reader finds the book educative as it gives an in-depth insight in its depiction of Chinese culture back in the days the novel was written. Consequently, Suspense is a domineering aspect and thus raising the inquisitiveness of the reader to continue reading the story so as to unfold the events in the plot.

Notably, interest is created in the novel when Chia Chen, the son of Chia Tai-Hua involves himself with a lecherous lifestyle and strikes an affair with the wife of his son, Chin Ko-Ching. The reader is eager to know if the child will ever note the relationship between his father and his wife and if he comes to the knowledge of the affair, what will be his next step. The audience gets to have the inquisitive spirit of wishing to know the end status of the relationship between the Chin Ko-Ching and his father and whether the mother of the child will ever know about the adulterous nature of his husband. Curiosity is also created when Chia Sheh impregnates a concubine, and they have a daughter Ying- Chun. The reader gets the feeling of wanting to know whether the born daughter out of wedlock will ever claim her rightful inheritance from the Chia family (Xiugui 134). Also, the audience wants to know whether the concubine will ever be accepted in the Chia family and whether the father of the daughter will ever take the sibling as his on flesh and blood. Markedly, after the death of Chia Chu at a younger age, the reader wants to know if the left wife will remarry or he will decide to stay in as a member of the Chia family. Also, there was a likelihood of her being remarried to one of the Chia family members. After the birth of Pao-Yu with a piece of precious Jade in his mouth. The reader gets curious to know the significance of the precious jade and whether Pao-Yu will be the savior of the atrocities that were befalling the house of Chia. The Jade was believed to have a spiritual healing, and thus curiosity is aroused in the fate of the life of the child and what he will turn out to be in his life. After the death of Lin Ju-hai, the wife to Chia Cheng and the mother to Lin Tai- Yu, the grandmother to Tai- Yu, Lady Dowager is invited to the Chia family. Remarkably, she decided to take her granddaughter with her and the reader’s curiosity in increased wanting to know whether the grandmother will agree to marry the granddaughter to the Chia family. Also, Lady Dowager dotted the granddaughter with Pao-Yu, and she fueled their relationship to blossom. Notably, Pao- Yu is attracted to girls, and the reader is inquisitive of the end of the relationship between the two young children (Xiugui 132). To sum it up, the drama that unfolds in the family of Chia especially after significant relationships with concubines, early deaths of children, increasing number of windows, and the increasing number of children, the curiosity of the reader is raised. Consequently, the audience wants to know the following unfolding events in the family drama and the consequences of the actions of the family of Chia after they engaged in activities that were clearly not of public interest.

Conspicuously, Pao- Yu has a clear preference for the feminine company, and thus he spent most of his life in the early stages with his cousins of the opposite gender. The boy has an evident rivalry with his father who wants him to man up and build a life for himself. The boy is so much into the company of girls to the extent of the father worrying about his success in academics. The reader is interested to know the choice the boy will make between following his dream career and playing around with girls. The difference between the careers of selection of Pao- Yu is intriguing since he is interested in an official career, but his father is grooming him for a distinguished works career which was not his interest. The author states that Pao-yu has a rebellious character and the reader is eager to find out the conflict that might come up between the son and his parents and how they will handle the differences. Remarkably, the young boy yearns for the freedom to love and marry whomever he wants. Consequently, the author wants to find out whether he will be granted freedom to marry a girl of his choice or whether his parents will choose a wife for him. Apparently, Pao-yu is in love with Pao- Chai, and Tai- Yu and as a result, the reader is eager to know the girl Pao- Yu will choose for himself as a wife (Xiugui 345). The dream of the boy is to explore and excel in his dream career of writing, but the environment is not conducive for him to advance his career. Therefore, the audience is left with the feeling needing to find out the fate of the dream career of Po- Yu, and thus increasing the curiosity of the audience reading the book.

Apparently, Pao- Yu’s sister is chosen as an imperial concubine, and the reader is eager to know whether the affluent and influence of the Chia family will go a notch higher after the family girl to join a classy family. The happiness of the family is expected to rise after the marriage of the daughter, and they decide to build a grand view garden for the family to entertain the concubine Lady after she comes back (Cao 165). The reader is willing to find out whether the happiness of the family is sustained even after giving away their daughter. In the grand view garden, the whole family is expected to dine together, but the secrets behind the relationships between family members and their wives and children are jeopardy. Parents were not in good terms with the children, and the children have weird relationships that lead to early marriages and deaths. Following the scandals in the family, the audience is eager to know whether the family unity portrayed in the garden during meals and celebrations will continue to be there or the hidden secrets of the family members will one day come to light and tear the fabric of unity in the household. Therefore, curiosity is well included in almost the whole in the novel, and the reader is kept having an inquisitive mind of what will happen subsequent chapters. To sum it up, the book is quite long and has more than four hundred characters, but through the curiosity created in almost all the lives lived by the characters the reader is kept interested to know the happenings in each one of them. Therefore, the characters portray attractive traits that maintain the reader guessing on subsequent happenings in the plot.

Also, the surprise is one of the domineering aspects of the novel. There are many incidents in the story that the reader never expects them to happen. The audience does not expect Pao- Yu to love both girls at his disposal equally. One expects the boy have an attachment to one of them especially Tai- Yu whom they spent most of their childhood time together. The reader expects the family to support Pao- Yu especially after they realized that he is in love with Tai-Yu and respect his decision. Also, it is not expected that after the family accommodated Tai-Yu and her grandmother, the Chia family will reject her as a perfect brined for their son Pao-Yu. Instead, they prefer Pao-Chai as his bride instead of his favorite girlfriend Tai-Yu. The unfolding drama about the marriage between Pao-Yu and Pao-chai is a delightful surprise to the reader. We do not expect Pao- Chai to agree to be married secretly to her future husband since he will end up noting her at the end (Cao 324). However, little known to the reader, Pao-Chai agrees to the arrangement and goes ahead to dress for the wedding. Therefore, due to the carefully crafted plan to marry Pao-Chai in secrecy not known to Pao-Chai, the reader does not expect the husband to be to know the secret before the materials day. Therefore, the plot twist in the narrative is motivated to keep the interest of the audience and to surprise them in a revelation.

Nevertheless, the reader is surprised to come to the knowledge that Pao-Yu knows the arrangement and decides to call off the wedding. Remarkably, the death of Tai-Yu comes as a surprise to the reader. Although she was sickly, the reader did not anticipate that her death will result from the heartbreak she suffered after realizing the plot against her possible marriage with the love of her life. The family of Pao-Yu, loved him so much and the reader does not expect the family to lie about her potential wife, and we expect them to be frank with the boy and probably convince him to change his mind. The extent of the sickness of Tai-Yu comes surprises the reader when she fell unconscious and spat blood (Cao 56). The audience is surprised by the lack of concern from the Chia family as they went ahead with the wedding preparations without ensuring that the health of Tai- Yu is back. Consequently, Tai-Yu dies in solitude, grief, and hatred. The death of Tai-Yu happening the day as the wedding of the love of his life is an issue that happens as a surprise to the reader. The happiness that Pao-Yu was experiencing before the marriage was in contrast to the pain Tai-Yu was suffering on her deathbed. The act of Pao-Yu going out of his mind after his realization of the trickery of his bride, came as a surprise to the reader since the audience expects Pao-Yao to end the marriage instantly. Later the in the novel, Pao-Yu is presented having married and impregnated Pao-Chai. The whole plot of the story surrounds the character Pao-Chai, and the author has used him to surprise the reader in many instances. His relationships with the family and women are intriguing and keep the audience interested to know his next move.

Additionally, the beginning of the downfall of the Chia family comes as a surprise for to the reader. Notably, the audience expects the Chai family to retain its affluence and influence to the society but instead, they start to nose dive financially, and the family members face tough times, and many of them ended up facing death. The death of the imperial concubine comes as a surprise to the reader together with the deprivation of Chia Sheh rank after he conspired with the provincial officials to take advantage of the weak. Notably, it surprises the reader to find out the source of wealth of the Chia family was as a result of taking advantage of the vulnerable in the society. Also, the extent of the consequences of his crime was an extreme surprise to the reader since his property was confiscated and the subsequent involvement of the House of Chai Cheng. Notably, the resultant death of the grandmother and the next kidnap of Miao-Yu and the death of WangHsi-Feng and the resultant loss of his authority are surprise events to the reader. The misfortunes that faced the family were intense since they occurred at almost the same period. The reader is surprised to realize that all the wealth owned by the family was going to the drain and thus the curiosity of the reader to know the fate of the many family members. Also, the sickness of Pao-Yu to the point of death comes as a surprise to the reader and even when a monk appears with the lost Jade, the audience expects that the downfall of Pao-Yu has reached the optimum. However, little known to the reader, Pao- Yu regains consciousness after a terrible nightmare, and he vows to restore the reputation of his house. Consequently, after his determination to change the status of his home, he left his pregnant wife and disappeared after the examination. The disappearance came as a surprise to the reader since Pao-Yu went against his word (Miller 30). The many instances of surprise employed by the author, change the view of the reader concerning the other events. Notably, some twists in the narrative have been foreshadowed, raising the curiosity of the reader of subsequent events in the novel.

To sum it up, surprise, suspense, and curiosity are the most outstanding features if the novel and they prompt the reader to read the work to the last page. Remarkably, the whole narrative is based on the dream Pao-Yu regarding a fairly land where he met a goddess who prophesies the fate of his family and the evil that was to befall the family. The reader is eager to know whether the Pao-Yu dream will come to pass and whether his family will ever change its habit of using other people to make a life out of it. The drama that follows individual members of the Chia family can keep the reader glued to the book in the effort of finding out what transpires in the subsequent chapters. Therefore, the author has carefully crafted the words, and the three aspects of his work make it more interesting to read. The whole novel is in the form of an adventure to the reader as the surprises, suspense, and curiosity created by the plot of the narrative keep the reader mesmerized.





























Works Cited

Cao, Xueqin. Hung Lou Meng, or, The Dream of the Red Chamber. Dinslaken, Anboco, 2016.

Liu, Zaifu, and Yunzhong Shu. Reflections on Dream of the Red Chamber. Youngstown, N.Y., Cambria Press, 2008.

Miller, Lucien. Masks of Fiction in Dream of The Red Chamber. Tuscon [Sic], Published For The Association For Asian Studies By The University Of Arizona Press, 2013.

Xiugui, Zhang. Dream of The Red Chamber (A Dream Of Red Mansions). Lincoln, Neb., Cliffs Notes, 2011.