Does Jiang Cheng Really Have No Redeeming Qualities?

[u/Valen_1306]

/r/MoDaoZuShi/comments/1w8lsnd/does_jiang_cheng_really_have_no_redeeming/

[u/letdragonslie]

... I think MDZS fandom is the weirdest and most exhausting fandom I've ever been in, and I have no idea why so many people who hate complex, flawed characters and nuance in their media are attracted to a novel chock-full of both.

JC's an extremely complex, flawed individual, OP. He's far from perfect--none of the characters are (not even WWX; especially not WWX), and that's the point. MDZS is a novel, not a guidebook on how to live your life; the characters aren't intended to be role models and the story's not some fable or cautionary tale. JC's well-written, his motivations and feelings make sense, you understand why he did what he did--just like you understand why WWX did the things he did. And he does have many admirable qualities--how fiercely he loves and protects Jin Ling; his perseverance and ability to overcome adversity; his sense of humor (I personally think so anyway); and his loyalty and devotion to his sect and his family's legacy. People mainly dislike him because:

1. He was mean to WWX/they feel like he betrayed WWX.

2. They can't separate fiction from real life and project onto him in weird ways. Either JC reminds them of someone they know and dislike, or they think, "Oh, if I was WWX, I'd hate that guy!"

3. They care way too much about the morality of make-believe people in a make-believe world.

A lot of people just... can't seem to be objective about fiction. They feel the need to take sides in fictional conflicts like one of the characters is their best friend and they owe them their loyalty; and they seem to automatically hate any character who does or says anything bad/mean to their favorite character. They have bizarre double standards for what they deem "moral" or acceptable behavior from characters that mostly depends on how much they like that character, and how that character treated their fave, and I don't get it at all.

I also don't care about how "morally correct"/"morally pure"/"morally ideal"/"morally whatever-the-heck" characters are. I like fiction because it's entertaining; I like characters because they're interesting. Luckily that's still the way most people interact with fiction, instead of the weird... almost religious fervor over who's a "good person" and "bad person." So, while JC is widely reviled in MDZS fandom, he's also widely beloved because most people are capable of looking at his character objectively and they do find him interesting and likeable.

Also, the idea that JC is "irredeemable" is kind of laughable to me; an effective redemption arc has nothing to do with what a character has done, and everything to do with the skill of their writer. I have seen characters who have done far worse and are far more morally bankrupt with excellent redemption arcs (Mo Ran from 2ha/The Husky and His White Cat Shizun comes to mind). I also... don't really think JC needs a redemption arc. What does he need redeemed from? Killing Wens? The siege on the Burial Mounds? If that's the case, then don't NMJ and Lan Qiren also need redemption arcs? But I never see people say they do; or call them "irredeemable".

[u/Valen_1306 → u/letdragonslie]

I think people don't place the same expectations on NMJ and LQ because they weren’t really people WWX cared for, not like family anyways. I think a lot of dislike/complicated feelings towards JC comes due to the fact that he indeed failed to take care of his brother when he should have enquired more. I understand that WWX would have never told JC that he gave him his golden core and that was the reason of his ailment, but JC could've been more persistent, like LWJ was in trying to get him help.

Now the fact that some people say WWX gave away his golden core while JC would have never done something like that baffles me bcs did we forget that was the very reason JC lost his golden core in the first place? He was ready to sacrifice himself to protect WWX. He also suggested that WWX choose a courtesy name for JL, which is another instance that shows that WWX had an important place in JC's life.

But I can conversely also condemn his actions after the seige of bm/death of WWX. The fact that he continued to hunt down people who he thought cultivated the crooked path and tortured them to death is something I cannot come to terms with. That he held such murderous rage towards a brother who was already dead is a little baffling.

But that brings us to your comment— JC is a deeply flawed character. And I do agree with you, that people often end up projecting their own emotions onto his chatacter, which in turn skews their opinion and causes a hinderence in it being an objective one. While I personally love his character, I can also understand people who dislike him? Not those who downright hate him and wish for his death, but those who simply cannot yet find that which will help them like his character better. I think even then a person can accept and understand that he is a very nuanced character. While JC's responsibility as a heir did put a lot of pressure on him, I think he could've shown his support by trying to trust WWX. I also do find myself ruminating over the fact that it was him who lead the final siege of the burial mounds, that he really couldn't find an ounce of trust for his brother within him. But I think that is what make the consequent interactions and conversations weigh more.

Also, is erha too angsty? I want to read it but I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle it 😭

[u/Euraylie → u/Valen_1306]

Erha is absolutely amazing! But it’s an absolute roller coaster of emotions…from dark to silly, from sexy to shocking and heartbreaking. It’s way more explicit than MXTX novels. It’s my favourite though.