Zhang Ailing's Intention in Writing the First Incense
Zhang Ailing's intention of writing The First Incense could be considered from the background and theme of the novel. The novel The First Incense was written in the 1930s during China's Anti-Japanese War. During this period of social unrest, people's fate had undergone tremendous changes. The novel takes a woman's life course as the main line, depicting her experiences and feelings in different historical periods, and also reflecting the various contradictions and problems of the society at that time. The main theme of the novel was about love, life, and humanity. Through describing the love story between the protagonist and his lover, the novel expressed the true meaning of love and deep thinking about human nature. Each character in the novel has its own unique personality and life experience. The emotional entanglements and conflicts between these characters reflect the complexity of social classes and interpersonal relationships at that time. When Zhang Ailing wrote The First Incense, she used a unique literary technique and language style to describe the characters and emotions in the novel vividly. The background music and the description of the scenes in the novel were also a major feature that enhanced the appeal and atmosphere of the novel. Therefore, The First Incense was regarded as one of Zhang Ailing's representative works and a classic in the history of modern Chinese novels.
