The Symbolic System of Satin Clothing and Characters’ Fate in A Dream in Red Mansions
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Abstract
The descriptions of velvet and satin clothing in A Dream in Red Mansions construct a symbolic system that implies the characters’ destinies and the rise and fall of society. Through meticulous descriptions of textile texture, color, and patterns, Cao Xueqin transforms clothing into a symbolic carrier of fate prophecy and character representation. Velvet and satin clothing function not only as markers of status within the feudal hierarchy but also as material signs through which luxurious textures and color changes allude to the decline of the Jia family. This paper analyzes the construction of the symbolic system of velvet and satin clothing and explores its artistic value from three perspectives: cultural connotation, relationship with characters’ fates, and narrative function. The study shows that satin and velvet textiles in the novel form a dual reference system connecting material and spiritual dimensions, as well as appearance and essence. Clothing descriptions therefore become an important narrative device for revealing identity, foreshadowing fate, and deepening thematic meaning.
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