My study investigates the late-Ch'ing writer Liu E's autobiographical sensibility as expressed in The Travels of Lao Ts'an, and explores his acts of revelation and concealment of self presented in his novel.; In the first chapter, "A Display of Multiple Metaphors of Self," I discuss the frequently raised question regarding the lack of narrative coherence and unity in the novel. After scrutiny and juxtaposition of biographical information, autobiographical intent, and the portrayal of his protagonist, I argue that Liu E's novel allows him to display various metaphors of self in accordance with James Olney's autobiographical theory, thus attaining a coherence of metaphor if not narrative structure.; The second chapter is "The Portrait of a Lonely Traveler," in which I discuss this novel in view of traditional Chinese travel literature, and analyze Liu E's treatment of time and space in the story. One of my major concerns is to explore Liu E's perceived relationships between self, society, and country as expressed in various temporal and spatial relations in the novel.; In "A Great Moment of Revelation," the third chapter, I consider the famous Peach Blossom Mountain episode. In this chapter, the ethical and religious import of Liu E's philosophical discourse delivered in the story is my focus. I explore questions regarding Liu E's philosophical convictions and cultural identity, particularly during that turbulent late-Ch'ing age.; The fourth chapter is "Possible Impurity in the Depiction of Pure Officials." My attention here is on Liu E's description and indignant view of the so-called "pure officials." In addition to the manifest statements in his comments, I examine whether or not other latent motives can be detected in his depiction of "pure officials."; In the last chapter, "The Problematic in Liu E's Self-Written Commentaries," I deal with Liu E's own comments on his novel, which appear at the end of story chapters. At this point, Liu E steps aside from the writer's position to pose as a commentator to evaluate his own work; thus, his attention to and concern for specific scenes and episodes becomes a tell-tale indicator of his real intent and motivation in writing a novel for the expression of self.
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