The Story Archive

Sandalwood Death

Mo Yan · 2001 CE · Novel · Chinese · Contemporary

In Gaomi County in 1900 a Maoqiang opera singer leads a rising against the German railway being driven through the villages, and is captured by the imperial authorities. He is sentenced to the lingering sandalwood execution, to be carried out by the empire's most skilled executioner. The narration is voiced in the rhythms of local opera, and the novel sets the Boxer era's violence beside the theatre of punishment.

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Attributes

Genre
HistoricalPolitical
Theme
ColonialismWar & ViolencePower & CorruptionTraditionJustice & RevengeSuffering & Endurance
Archetype (Jung / Campbell)
Rebel / OutlawVillain / Tyrant
Plot type
Rise and Fall
Form
Polyphonic
Symbol / motif
The TrainThe StageBlood
Conflict
vs Societyvs Person
Mode / tone
EpicTragic
Culture / tradition
Chinese

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