Thunderstorm (play): Difference between revisions

'''''Thunderstorm''''' ({{zh|c=雷雨|p=Léiyǔ|w=LeiLei2-yüyü3}}) is a play written in 1933 by the Chinese dramatist [[Cao Yu]]. It is one of the most popular Chinese dramatic works of the period prior to the [[Second Sino-Japanese War|Japanese invasion]] of China in 1937.

HereThe is an act-by-actfollowing synopsis of this play,is based on the complete version of the play (the prologue and epilogue are usually omitted from performances):<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chen|first1=Xiaomei|title=The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama|date=2010|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-14570-1}}</ref>

Two children stumble into the former Zhou mansion, now a hospital operated by [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] [[nun]]s. The hospital is inhabited by two mentally disturbed patients, one a silent and morose old woman and another a younger, violently hysterical woman. An elderly man named "old Mr Zhou" visits them. Through the dialogue between the nurses, it is revealed that old Mr Zhou is the husband of the younger patient, that three people died in this house ten years agobefore in a tragedy and as a result the house is rumoured to be haunted. Towards the end of the prologue the old woman walks to the window, and falls.

Fanyi enters after Sifeng has left and attempts to dissuade Ping from leaving the house and abandoning her. She tells him that she is unable to cope with Puyuan's abuse and expresses longing for Ping, and when Ping shows indifference, she angrily accuses both hehim and his father of hypocrisy and irresponsibility. Meanwhile, Ping expresses his regret for ever being involved with Fanyi and refuses to ever have anything to do with her again. The two end up in a heated argument and Ping leaves.

Puyuan advises Fanyi that a psychiatrist has arrived to see Fanyi at his request. After she storms off in anger, he engages in conversation with Mrs Lu. After learning that she used to live in Wuxi, where he lived in his youth, he asks her if she knew where Shiping's grave is. Mrs Lu calmly tells him that although Shiping attempted suicide after being driven out of the Zhou family and leaving her first child (Zhou Ping) behind, she survived, gave birth to sheher and Puyuan's second son soon afterwards and married a poor man, who later became the father of her daughter. Eventually she reveals to Zhou Puyuan that she is indeed Shiping, who used to be a servant at the Zhou household where she had a relationship with Puyuan. Puyuan offers her money to atone for his sins, but she refuses and says she had decided to leave the city with her husband and daughter. Puyuan also learns from Shiping that their second son Lu Dahai is now working at his mine and is a leader in the workers' protests.

Lu Dahai, not knowing that Puyuan is his father, arrives at the Zhou house and confronts Puyuan over his [[exploitation of labour|exploitation of workers]]. Puyuan tells him that all other representatives have agreed to call off the strike and that everyone hadhas gone back to work except him. Lu Dahai is furious and insults Puyuan, but is punched by Zhou Ping and pushed away by the servants. Mrs Lu exits with Dahai.

A knock is heard and Zhou Chong arrives to visit Sifeng. He apologizes for what had happened that afternoon and offers one hundred dollars to Lu Gui as compensation. He tells Sifeng that although she turned down his proposal forof lovemarriage, he still wants to be friends with her and would like to use his allowance to pay for her schooling. He also tells her about his dream of a world where there is no conflict and everyone is equal.

It is now midnight and Zhou Ping climbs through the window to visit Sifeng in her room. The lovers embrace. Fanyi's face appears briefly at the window. They are interrupted when Dahai enters the room to find bed planks. Mrs Lu begs Dahai to not to hurt Ping. Zhou Ping escapes and Sifeng runs off in shame. Concerned about her safety, the family gogoes after her in the rain.

Although it is undisputed that the prodigious reputation achieved by ''Thunderstorm'' was due in large part to its scandalous public airing of the topic of incest, and many people have pointed out not inconsiderable technical imperfections in its structure, ''Thunderstorm'' is nevertheless considered to be a milestone in China's modern theatrical ascendancy.<ref>''The Literature of China in the Twentieth Century'' - Page 177 Bonnie S. McDougall, Kam Louie - 1997 "Cao Yu (1910-96) Cao Yu's Thunderstorm is the most famous dramatic work of the pre-war period and possibly the most performed play"</ref> Even those who have questioned the literary prowess of Cao Yu, for instance, the noted critic C. T. Hsia, admit that the popularization and consolidation of China's theatrical genre is fundamentally owed to the first works of Cao Yu.<ref>C. T. Hsia, ''A History of Modern Chinese Fiction'', [[Indiana University Press]], third edition, 1999. ({{ISBN|0-253-21311-8}})</ref> ''Thunderstorm'' is regarded as one of the most significant works of modern Chinese drama.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wetmore|first=Kevin J.|date=2011|title=Review of The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41349988|journal=The Journal of Asian Studies|volume=70|issue=4|pages=1114–1116|doi=10.1017/S0021911811001756|jstor=41349988|s2cid=163257674|issn=0021-9118|doi-access=free}} "The plays themselves are the ultimate strength of the volume. Present are such crucial texts as Hu Shih's ''The Main Event in Life'' (1919); Cao Yu's ''Thunderstorm'' (1934) [...]; Lao She's ''Teahouse'' [...]"</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Fei|first=Faye Chunfang|date=2012|title=Review of The Soul of Beijing Opera: Theatrical Creativity and Continuity in the Changing World; The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23262944|journal=TDR|volume=56|issue=3|pages=187–190|doi=10.1162/DRAM_r_00198|jstor=23262944|s2cid=190594114|issn=1054-2043}} "Cao Yu's ''Thunderstorm'' (1934) [is] one of the modern classics by China's best-known playwright [...]"</ref>

''Thunderstorm'' bears comparisoncompares with other works of ancient and contemporary drama, particularly drama dealing with the wayhow the past haunts the present. In particular, ''Thunderstorm'' bears a strong resemblance in plot, themes, characterization, pacing and tone to the plays of [[Henrik Ibsen]]. Cao Yu was influenced by Western drama in many ways. He himself said that foreign drama writers had more influence on his creation, the first is Ibsen, second is Shakespeare, and there are Chekhov and O'Neill. He said he also paid "particular attention" to studying Ibsen's "structure, characters, character, climax".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tong |first=Weimin |date=2003-12-18 |title=Lei Yu(Thunderstorm) and She Hui Zhi Zhu( Piltars of Society) |url=https://ocul-yor.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?&context=PC&vid=01OCUL_YOR:YOR_DEFAULT&search_scope=OCULDiscoveryNetwork&tab=OCULDiscoveryNetwork&docid=cdi_wanfang_journals_cqjyxyxb200402010 |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=ocul-yor.primo.exlibrisgroup.com |language=Chinese}}</ref> For instance, ''Thunderstorm'' shares with Ibsen's ''[[Ghosts (play)|Ghosts]]'' elements such as a respected patriarch who has, in fact, impregnated his servant, a romance between his children (who do not know that they are half-siblings), and a climactic revelation of this situation in the play. More generally, the book relates to the genre of classical tragedy, particularly the [[Sophocles#Theban Playsplays|Oedipus cycle]] and other plays of [[Sophocles]].

[[Hangzhou]]-born composer [[Mo Fan]] composed a modern[[Western opera in Chinese|western-style opera]] based on the play, with the same title ([[Thunderstorm (opera)|''Leiyu'']], "Thunderstorm"). The opera was presented in 2001 by the [[Shanghai Opera House]] company.<ref>[http://www.shanghaiopera.com.cn/EN/Gjtd_gjmp_show.asp?info_id=1170 Shanghai Opera - Thunderstorm (2001)]</ref>

Another adaptation was the 2006 film ''[[Curse of the Golden Flower]]'', directed and written by [[Zhang Yimou]]. This very loose adaptation set the action in the imperial court of the late [[Tang Dynastydynasty]], with the Emperor in the place of Puyuan.

* [http://thesis.haverford.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10066/5275/2010AndreasG.pdf Translation of ''The Thunderstorm''] ([https://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/62NbFo5Zb?url=web/20120425033059/http://thesis.haverford.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10066/5275/2010AndreasG.pdf Archive]) by Genevieve Andreas, [[Haverford College]]

[[Category:IncestPlays inabout playsincest]]