Overview
The speaker shares an in-depth reflection on reading Cao Xueqin’s monumental novel The Story of the Stone, discussing its context, structure, major themes, and personal experience, while providing a volume-by-volume breakdown.
Context and Authorship
- The Story of the Stone (aka Dream of the Red Chamber) was published around 1760 and is a classic of Chinese literature.
- The original author, Cao Xueqin, wrote 80 chapters; the remaining 40 were completed by an anonymous author, edited by Gao E.
- The Penguin edition used is translated by David Hawkes (volumes 1–3) and John Minford (volumes 4–5).
- The novel is contemporaneous with Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy.
Literary Classification and Structure
- The novel is considered a traditional realist novel with elements of allegory, manners, satire, and the fantastic.
- It is divided into five volumes for the Penguin edition, with a total of 120 chapters.
- Each chapter typically contains two episodes, using cliffhangers to sustain reader interest.
- The main narrative thread follows Bao-yu’s story, but the novel includes many subplots and characters.
Main Themes and Plot Highlights by Volume
Volume 1: The Golden Days
- Introduces the Jia family and their prosperous household.
- Establishes the magical origin of Bao-yu’s jade and the novel’s fantastic elements.
- Focuses on Bao-yu’s relationships, especially his love triangle with Bao-chai and Dai-yu.
- Features notable chapters involving dream sequences and supernatural occurrences.
Volume 2: The Crab-Flower Club
- Shifts to a more realistic portrayal of daily household life and social structure.
- Explores the formation of a poetry club, highlighting women’s roles and social hierarchy.
- Examines the struggles and agency of servant women through key episodes.
Volume 3: The Warning Voice
- Expands on the lives of secondary characters and introduces major changes within the household.
- Details the decline in household management and the dissolution of the poetry club.
- Marks the beginning of a melancholic tone and includes humorous and dreamlike sequences.
Volume 4: The Debt of Tears
- Translated by John Minford, showing no noticeable change in style.
- The family's decline accelerates, with references to illness, nostalgia, and financial distress.
- Bao-yu loses his stone and later gets married, marking major narrative milestones.
Volume 5: The Dreamer Wakes
- Financial and social collapse intensifies; many characters leave or experience tragedy.
- Supernatural elements reappear, tying back to the story’s beginning.
- Bao-yu’s psychological unraveling is central; the novel ends with mystery and revelation.
Personal Reading Experience and Reflections
- The speaker read the novel over 28 days, totaling about 67 hours and 40 minutes.
- Describes the novel as a tapestry or universe capturing the essence of a Chinese household.
- The immersive experience led to continuous, almost obsessive reading.
Recommendations / Advice
- The speaker strongly recommends reading The Story of the Stone for its rich characters, narrative depth, and immersive quality.
- Suggests discussing the novel with others for deeper appreciation.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- The speaker invites questions, comments, recommendations, or further discussion from the audience.