2008-10-08 15:25 | Follow author
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Modern Annotation of Ancient Dream Drama 4

The traditional Chinese operas are all biased to the anti-evil pro-good “happy-ending”. At the turn of the Ming Dynasty , a flock of “happy , grand reunion” fans rewrote the tragic operas . They favored the good and hated the evil intensely . For instance , Ye Xianzu was not contented with the ending of the opera “Injustice Done to Dou E” , which presented an endin of blood staining the white gown , snow flying in mid-summer , drought in Chuzhou and rehabilitation of the wronged case : He revised the opera so that while Dou E was going to be executed , heavy snow fell suddenly . The execution was stopped and Dou E survived . 　　Shortly afterwards her wrong was redressed . Then her husband revived and there was the happy grand reunion . For another instance , the opera “Delight in Nanyang” ; Zhuge Liang finally conquered the Wei Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom and rejuvenated the Han Dynasty . Then he retired to his home . For another example , the opera “The Orchid Ornament” : In this opera Qu Yuan was no drowned in the Miluo River but resumed the high post in the Chu Kingdom . For yet another example , the opera “Break the Jin Monument” : In this opera , Yue Fei , who served his country with utter loyalty , finally overthrew the state of Jin . Such revisions came from the pipe dreams of the scholars and represented the controlling attempt by the overall culture on the drama culture . They helped to drain the inner worries of the audience and contributed to social stability . In this sense , the “happy grand reunion” dream represents both the wisdom and the regrets of the Chinese people . 　
Of all the theatres in the world , the Chinese audiences enjoy the most freedom . They can play the operas as amateurs ; and they can give whatever comments . They share the dreams of the dramas . “The world is a big stage ; the stage is a small world”. Although the traditional Chinese dramas have passed their prime period , many Chinese still attach their interest to them , on account of their elegance and sentimentality as well as on account of the optimism and leisurely entertainment they provide .