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This thesis aims to shed light on a critically significant yet underappreciated Taiwanese literary figure, Hawk (Lin Ming-Hua, 1949–). This paper seeks to outline Hawk's unique modernist portrayal and his profound engagement with life’s complexities.
The focus is on Hawk’s modernist literatures to articulate his importance in the Taiwanese literary field. Starting with Hawk’s award-winning novella "The Stolen Bicycle," the discussion delves into the distinctive entry of the writer into the literary field, as articulated by judges during the final selection meeting, and explores the modernist portrayal and thematic essence of this literature. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of Hawk’s modernist fiction, included in collections such as "One Street Village," "The Garunrun Letters," and "The Veiled Facebook," analyzes what makes Hawk's literatures distinctive. The inquiry extends into Hawk’s evolution in modernist writing and his exploration of the existential dilemmas, self-worth, and inquiries of marginalized individuals amid inescapable societal transformations and modernization. Lastly, through the eyes of an eccentric intellectual Flâneur and starting from the perspective of the simple-minded A Fool, the thesis questions and reflects on the state of modern society and capitalism, probing what constitutes true success, the erosion of emotions, and the meaning of life, thereby revealing the deep-seated value and significance of Hawk’s modernist literatures.
This study explores the core theme of Hawk's literature through the perspective of “A Fool” addressing the existential challenges and concerns of the frail, elderly, and eccentric. The "perspective of A Fool " implies two dimensions in this paper. Firstly, Hawk adopts the viewpoint of a fool to scrutinize the predicaments of modern existence, revealing the survival struggles of the frail and elderly. Secondly, Hawk mimics A Fool’s perspective to pose sincere inquiries akin to those raised in "The Emperor’s New Clothes." Hawk's portrayal under modernism reveals the harsh realities faced by these vulnerable groups, contradicting the supposedly modern, blissful, and joyful life projected by contemporary society. The author uses these perspectives to explore the writer’s chosen narrative stance and examines the themes, styles, and tones of his literatures.
This research will focus on three core issues to thoroughly analyze Heke's modernist creations. first, to explore and preliminarily outline Hawk’s creative trajectory; second, to discuss what distinguishes Hawk’s modernist literary portrayal; and third, to interpret the significance of the intellectual characters created by Hawk, and how their existential queries resonate with existentialism. |