Exploring the Fate of Common People in Feudal Society: A Case Study of The Lute

In the Yuan Dynasty, common people referred to those living at the lower strata of society, including the proletariat or small producers. Yuan Dynasty dramas depicted numerous images of common people. This paper begins with the image of common people and takes the Yuan Dynasty southern drama The Lute as its text. It deeply analyzes the fate trajectory of Cai Bojie and Zhao Wuniang, who represent common people in feudal society, exploring the reasons behind such tragic fates. Furthermore, it excavates the enduring literary value and contemporary significance of The Lute. The Lute not only reflects society and the era from a literary and artistic perspective but also perceives the tragic fate of common people during the feudal period. Indirectly, it demonstrates the significant contribution of traditional Chinese opera to the reconstruction of cultural concepts and moral-ethical notions.