On the one hand, it truly reveals the process and reason of human nature being corroded, thus profoundly criticizing and mocking the corruption of bureaucracy, the malpractice of imperial examination system and the hypocrisy of ethics at that time. On the one hand, it enthusiastically praised the protection of human nature by a few characters in a self-centered way, thus embodying the author's ideal.
The use of vernacular Chinese in the novel is becoming more and more skillful, and the characterization of characters is also quite in-depth and delicate, especially the superb satirical techniques, which makes this book a masterpiece of China's classical satirical literature.
Scholars
The imperial examination in Qing Dynasty was dominated by eight-part essay, which not only lagged behind and restricted people's thinking and imagination, but also failed to select truly outstanding talents because of the complicated style. In the end, this system became a hotbed of favoritism and malpractice, which opened the door for those princes and nobles to pay for officials.
Wu was born in a noble family. He personally experienced the imperial examination and understood its drawbacks and core hazards. After several examinations, he was completely disappointed with the imperial examination system at that time and mercilessly exposed the ugliness and darkness of human nature.