Ah Q is probably the most "beloved" character in modern Chinese literature. Well, in later popular adapations of
Lu Xun's 1918 work
The Story of Ah Q, Ah Q is sometimes portrayed just as a simpleton, or a man whose delusions are, at worst, just laughable. A mere clown or a fool - to be ultimately pitied.
But Lu Xun's intention is less generous. A poor and illiterate man, Ah Q often deludes himself in thinking that he is from a wealthy family or, later in the book, a victorious and heroic leader of the revolution against the Qing empire. Even the smallest setback, and however ridiculous his logic, Ah Q would find a way to claim a victory.
When his delusions are exposed, Ah Q would nonetheless find a way to claim moral or spiritual victory...thus walking away satisfied. If Ah Q's behaviour is read as symptomatic of the Chinese people at that time, then Lu Xun is levelling a very severe criticism that China continues to fool itself with its false revolutions and victories, when it has - in fact - merely ignored the political and social realities of poverty, corruption and its weakness before Japanese and western powers.
Ah Q - and by extension China in Lu Xun's time - is not only to be pitied, it should be rebuked - its moral/political delusions and cowardice exposed!
Over the Chinese New Year break, J and I was at the house of one of my colleagues - well, my boss - in
genteel Katong. A new penthouse with an outdoor rain shower, a 2-door fridge for wine, a room just for keeping paintings, and lovely timber sundecks. Even in our wildest daydreams, J and I would not even think of ever living in such a place (ok, maybe there's been some daydreaming about a room for paintings).
I guess that visit made more real how J's plan to take a break from work to study in the next couple of years will set us back financially.
Perhaps in the last few years, we have both grown too used to the financial and material comforts (yes, all our consumerist indulgences, ampulets do like pretty things!) Slowly, over time, these cloud our judgement, and we let fear of losing them dictate our actions and decisions, confusing fear for contentment, confusing pleasure for joy. So I hope we are not being Ah-Q in concluding that J's plan is the right thing to do - because once we did decide, I felt wonderfully free.
