The Image of the Tiger and the Theme of Desire in The Plum in the Golden Vase

Abstract

Abstract: The tiger is an image that symbolizes desire in The Plum in the Golden Vase. The ballad edition begins with Wu Song fighting a tiger. By paralleling Wu Song's battle with the tiger and other plotlines in the novel, it serves as a warning to readers about the danger of “tigers” in the form of beautiful women, representing the peril of lust. In the Chongzhen edition's first chapter, it subtly depicts Wu Song fighting the tiger while explicitly describing the tiger at the Jade Emperor Temple. Through the juxtaposition of these two scenes, it reveals the dual nature of temptation and danger associated with wealth and lust. The view of tiger as a symbol of desire is informed by the Taoist theory of internal alchemy. The “Dragon and Tiger Battle” structure that runs throughout the novel challenges the rationality of indulging in desires, as it aligns with Taoist principles. The image of tiger embodies the richness and thematic complexity of The Plum in the Golden Vase, and its use serves the overarching theme of desire within the novel.

Key words: the tiger, image, The Plum in the Golden Vase, desire, theme

Zhu Haixiao. The Image of the Tiger and the Theme of Desire in The Plum in the Golden Vase[J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2024, 44(1): 76-83.

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