ArticleInterdisciplinary Studies of Translation http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/tfll.2025.10.023
Exploitation and False Consciousness in Lu Hsün’s The True Story of Ah Q
Liyu Yang1,2,*, Benedict O. Medina2
1Meizhouwan Vocational Technology College, Putian 351254, Fujian, China.
2College of Arts and Sciences, Batangas State University-The National Engineering University Pablo Borbon Campus, Batangas 4200, The Philippines.
*Corresponding author: Liyu Yang
Published: October 31, 2025
Abstract
This research explores the manifestation and interweaving of material exploitation and ideological false consciousness in Lu Hsün’s novella The True Story of Ah Q (1926), which takes place in the late Qing dynasty of China in early 20th century. Through content analysis, identifies the paragraphs and excerpts and adopts Marxist literary criticism to have an in-depth analysis. It aims to examine the causes and effects of how the novella depicts exploitation and false con-sciousness and how relevant forces shape and sustain the encounters of individuals and collectives. This study shows the societal conditions at that time are hier-archies emerging from the semi-feudal and semi-colonial society, where the la-boring class in particular suffers the most. Beneath the comic and absurd surface of the narrative, the novella exposes the tragic reality of class oppression, in which the working people’s struggles are masked by illusive consolation. Based on the novella, we can find out that the exploitation and false consciousness lead to resignation, a skewed view of oneself, and the lack of real society advancement. In the end, this dynamic seals Ah Q’s tragic fate. Via the portray, this no-vella places itself in the discourse of class oppression, it raises questions about the ethical and political implications of false consciousness in that holes-riddled society. To maintain the accuracy of textual analysis, this study focuses on G. K. Leung’s English translation version The True Story of Ah Q , all character names in this paper strictly adhere to the original translations from his version, such as “Lu Hsün” is the same as Lu Xun. This is hereby stated.
Keyword
Exploitation; False Consciousness; Marxism; Spiritual Victory; Class Struggle
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Copyright
© 2025 by the author(s).
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How to cite this paper
Exploitation and False Consciousness in Lu Hsün’s The True Story of Ah Q
How to cite this paper: Liyu Yang, Benedict O. Medina. (2025). Exploitation and False Consciousness in Lu Hsün’s The True Story of Ah Q. Translation and Foreign Language Learning, 1(3), 532-536.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/tfll.2025.10.023