Criticism of Man's Fate

A detailed Summary of Criticism of Man's Fate

To one who lives in a democratic society the word "Communism" means names such as "Marx," "Lenin," "Stalin," and even "Anastasia." But according to Rodney Guin, a high school history teacher, those within a Communistic system often worry about how they will feed their family tomorrow. The often heard, "Each according to his ability and each according to his need" is a slogan, not a reality (Communism 2). About Communism, Benjamin Cardozo wrote, "Again and again, the altruist has arisen in politics, has bidden us share with others the product of our toil, and has proclaimed the communistic dogma as the panacea for our social ills." Matt's Internet homepage states, "Under Communism, profits from the worker's labor would be shared out for the benefit of the workers themselves. This would, obviously, lead to a much better deal for the people of the world." Sounds good on paper, but numerous countries exist as proof that Communism in action is the opposite of any of those statements.

Having lived in China during the 1920's and witnessed the realities of struggle against Communism, Andre Malraux wrote Man's Fate, an example of how strong Communist strings can be. I found it interesting tha

and assistance to the peasants and workers (665).

Besides those just discussed, Malraux brings us Old Gisors, who is Kyo's father, and Kyo's mistress, May. Through them, he demonstrates the strength of familial bonds and shows how different individuals struggled with the fate that Man handed them. Old Gisors, a professor, knew that no amount of teaching would probably change the world he lived in, yet he tried for it gave him a link to his son, Kyo. Eventually he turned to opium to dim the world around him. May was a doctor who gave all she had to her profession and to the man she loved, Kyo. When May knew that Kyo was about to embark on an act that would kill him, she admitted to him that she had slept with someone else. What were her motives for doing so? Perhaps May wanted to hurt Kyo, as she thought he was hurting her because he was choosing death over a life with her. In the end, May redeemed herself when she goes to Kyo's father, Old Gisors, and offered to take him with her to Moscow. Though Old Gisors refused, May is forgiven for hurting Kyo before his death and one hopes---even though she will live in a Communist society---that her future will be an easy one.

Dr. Sun also pointed out the fundamental principle for domestic and foreign policy by saying, "We must arouse the masses of the people and unite in a common struggle with those nations of the world which treat us as equals." The Three People's Principles of the old democracy, which were adapted to the old international and domestic conditions, were thus reshaped into the Three People's Principles of New Democracy, which were then adapted to the new international and domestic conditions. Although ten years after the revolution in Man's Fate, the Communist Party of China was referring to the latter kind of Three People's Principles and to no other when, in its Manifesto of September 22, 1937, it declared that, "The Three People's Principles being what China needs today, our Party is ready to fight for their complete realization." These Three People's Principles embody Dr. Sun Yat-sen's original Three Great Policies --- alliance with Russia, cooperation with the Communist Party!

Mao Tse-Tung also wrote, "It is also clear that the Communist Party must not be impetuous...but that it must have well-selected cadres working underground, must accumulate strength and bide its time there. In leading the people in struggle against the enemy, the Party must adopt the tactics of advancing step by step slowly and surely, keeping to the principle of waging struggles on just grounds, to our advantage, and with restraint, and making use of such open forms of activity as are permitted by law, decree and social custom; empty clamor and reckless action can never lead to success" (319).

What Yat-sen didn't count on was Chiang Kai-Shek. Rusty Johnson provides the following summary:

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Some common words found in the essay are:
Malraux Ch'en, Communist Party, Mao Tse-Tung, Man's Fate, Harry Truman, Principles Democracy, Dr Sun, Matt's Internet, Malraux French, Min Chu, people's principles, man's fate, principles democracy, dr sun, communist party, principles democracy adapted, adapted international, traffic jams, kyo's father, chiang kai-shek, domestic conditions, international domestic conditions, people's principles democracy, democracy adapted international, adapted international domestic,

Approximate Word count = 1939
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English