"A Critique of 'Christmas Gift' " - 1945
写实主义的作品我们看过许多了。 浪漫主义的写作在我们的文坛上还很少。 浪漫主义的文学是完全主观本位的文学。 他所排斥的，是平凡，因袭，规范，理智。 他所赞赏的是惊奇，神秘，感伤，空想。 他的特色是具有热烈的情感， 奇崤的格调，丰富的想像，怪诞的题材。 不受丝毫的束缚，不落平常的罺臼。 「圣诞礼物」就是这样的一篇作品。 这当然是指近代的新浪漫主义，不是以前单以追求美为目的的旧观念。 现在姑勿论哪一种主义较为有价值，较为需要，「圣诞礼物」的方式到底没有脱离了人生。
作者侧重于情绪的完成，所应用的离奇故事材料也不过是用来养成人类爱地深情罢。 女主人公，玛利安娜，是个感情的传递者。 这不必一定是她个人的感情， 而是代表人类底真爱，最伟大的爱。 所以任何一个人物都可以担任这个主人公，效果总是一样的。 作者设法使读者明白为人类的幸福而牺牲的大爱。 这爱自然会给后死者带来多少悲哀，这是一种无可补还的损失。 在群众暂时忘去痛苦的圣诞前夕，这些牺牲者更容易受到孤独悲哀的侵袭。 但是她不曾懊悔过，或怒恨过， 虽然还有着人类懦弱的眼泪，但是却没有失去果敢和勇气。 这伟大的精神是应该钦佩和效法的。 显然是作者的成功。
作者对于思想的灌溉比现实的描写反为着重。 思想是正确的，前进的，只可惜作者不曾表露出来。 这里的伟大人物在朴园君的「新种」里没有出现。 这大概是朴园君所说的雷声的创造者罢。
拿这和 「恭喜发财」比较，「圣诞礼物」的物和景的描写确实贫拙得可怜了。 希望作者从这方面下工夫。
整篇的故事结构很完密，美与善的追求也很有成绩，所带来的希望的曙光也很耀目，是一篇等待发展思想的价值作品。
We have read many works of realism. Works of Romanticism are still rare in our literary world. Literary works of Romanticism are literature of subjective standards. What it rejects is the ordinary, conventional, normative and rational. What it appreciates is the amazing, mysterious, sentimental, and fantastic. Its characteristics consist of passionate emotions, peculiar style, rich imagination and grotesque themes, unbounded by the slightest restraint, nor falling into the ordinary rules. “Christmas Gift” is such a piece of work. This, of course, refers to the modern neo-romanticism, not the old concept that only aimed at pursuing aesthetics. Now, regardless of which doctrine is more valuable and necessary, the approach of the "Christmas Gift" has not been divorced from life.
The author focuses on the execution of emotions, and the outlandish story materials are used only to cultivate the deep affection of love in humanity. The heroine, Mariana, is a communicator of emotions. They do not necessarily have to be her personal feelings, but represent the true love of mankind, the greatest love. So any character can serve as the protagonist, and the effect will always be the same. The author attempts to make readers understand the great love that sacrifices for the happiness of mankind. This love will naturally bring much sorrow to the deceased; this is an irreparable loss. When the masses temporarily forget their pains on Christmas Eve, these victims are more vulnerable to loneliness and sadness. But she never regretted or resented it. Although she still had tears of human cowardice, she did not lose her determinism and courage. This great spirit should be admired and emulated. Clearly this is a success for the author.
The author focuses more on the nurturing of ideas than the description of reality. The idea is unerring and progressive, but it is a pity that the author never showed it. The great figures here did not appear in Pu Yuanjun's "New Species". This is probably the creator of “thunder” as mentioned by brother Pu Yuanjun.
Compared with "Gong Xi Fa Cai", the description of objects and scenery in "Christmas Gift" is indeed pitifully inadequate. I hope the author will further endeavor on this aspect.
The structure of the whole story is compressed and complete, the pursuit of beauty and kindness is also quite successful, and the dawn of hope it brings is very dazzling. It is a valuable work awaiting for further expansion of ideas.