Question

Instructions: Read "Diary of a Madman" by Lu Xun. Then, write a thoughtful and considered posting that explains your response to the following writing prompt about the short story.

Explanation: Unlike Tagore, Lu Xun embraced a Western education--perhaps it was on account of his grandfather's political corruption, resulting in the loss of the family's reputation and fortune that had him seek out a different philosophy and way of life. We know that though he was never an active Communist, he was inspired by the works of Karl Marx. We also know that he incorporated many styles of Western writing into his own--the short story is one such invention that he used in the development of his stories about Chinese society during his lifetime. Lu Xun was an avid anti-traditionalist, advocating for a radical change in his society to reject the entrenched Confucian philosophy as a way of life. In the short story "Diary of a Madman", cannibalism is an allegory illustrating how society's ethical and moral values and traditions can consume or pressure the individual into conformity.

Groupthink is a modern term that came into existence long after Lux Xun wrote his short story and has been used to explain crowd psychology and its decision-making processes. It was first introduced during the Vietnam era in an attempt to explain how decisions and belief structures are made by groups and their impact on society as a whole. The following link is a description of Groupthink from Psychology Today. Read the short article and consider the characteristics of this phenomenon in relation to Lu Xun's short story.

The following are also two short YT videos from Human Dimensions and Minute Videos that also explain the concept of Groupthink.
(groupthink that's just how we do it)
(groupthink a short introduction)


Writing Prompt: Reflect on the concept of Groupthink as a society's method for conforming an individual toward specific standards and the effects and consequences of such conformity. Explain two examples of Groupthink by the villagers as a whole or individually and how and why the main character reacts and responds in the way that he does. Draw on the information from the videos and article in your explanation. Reply to the content of another classmate's posting--no less than 150 words.

Answer 1

In "Diary of a Madman," Lu Xun uses cannibalism as an allegory to illustrate how society's ethical and moral values can consume the individual into conformity. The villagers' belief in the tradition of consuming the oldest child's flesh pressures the main character into conforming, leading to his descent into madness. This is an example of groupthink, which is defined as a phenomenon where individuals in a group conform to the dominant opinion or idea, leading to irrational decision-making processes.

One example of groupthink in the story is the villagers' collective belief in the tradition of consuming the oldest child's flesh, which the main character initially resists. However, the villagers' insistence and mockery ultimately pressure him into conforming to their beliefs. Another example is the village's reaction to the main character's claims of cannibalism, which they collectively deny and ridicule, further emphasizing their conformity to tradition.

The main character's reaction and response to groupthink is his descent into madness, a consequence of his inability to conform to the villagers' traditions. He is unable to reconcile his own beliefs with those of the group, leading to a breakdown in his mental health.

The concept of groupthink is evident in Lu Xun's portrayal of the villagers' adherence to tradition and their collective denial of the reality of cannibalism. The consequences of this conformity are illustrated through the main character's descent into madness. This highlights the importance of critical thinking and individualism in society, as blindly conforming to group norms can have detrimental effects on the individual and society as a whole.