任是无情也动人——谈薛宝钗和她的《咏白海棠》诗

"Although Pitiless, Yet Moving"——Discussing Xue Bao-chai and her Poem "White Begonia Chant"

薛宝钗在她的《咏白海棠》诗中,以花拟人,实际上描绘了自己的形象。她自夸身心俱洁,是“淡极”而“花更艳”,俨如道德的形象化身。但曹雪芹却委婉喻示:宝钗其人“任是无情也动人”。她工于心计,矫情做作,挟德与术收拢人心,不动声色地争夺那“无情”的“金玉良缘”。宝钗其人虚伪得“动人”,其诗亦虚伪得“动人”。

This article discusses the character of Xue Bao- chai by her poem, and explains the hidden attitude of Cao Xue - qin, the writer of ＂Dream of the Red Chamber＂. Xue Bao- chai takes herself as a flower. She praises the flower and in fact she praises herself. But Cao Xue- qin hints that she is so hypocritical that she is moving and so is her poem.