The meager image depicted by Lu Xun's "Diary of a Madman" projects an illustration of society that stresses submission to authority and the ultimate compliance to tradition. The story offers an ironic look at Chinese history, culture and social life. Lu Xun battles the idea that society is constantly being manipulated and controlled by the masses of people who know no better that to follow tradition. "Diary of a Madman" articulates Lu Xun's interest in changing society. "Diary of a Madman" is China's first modern short story. The story was considered contemporary because Lu Xun discards traditional techniques such as omniscient narration and replaced it with diarist's first person. The subjective point of view is unique in Chinese literature. Lu Xun does not follow traditional techniques because "Diary of a Madman" is his rejection to Chinese customs. Lu Xun's I- narration proves an effective means of distancing himself and developing perspectives different from what his reader would associate with his public stance. It is ironic that Lu Xun adopts the first-person narrator to avoid revealing himself.
             Lu Xun also uses an ironic technique in the preface by writing in classical Chinese language to suggest a false, polite world made exclusively by social appearance. The traditional Chinese text is set against the language of society. The informal language is not seen as polite but to the point. Lu Xun use the common language to advocate the reality of pre-revolution China is a cannibalistic feudal society. This is parallel to how the diarist feels about everyone around him wants to eat him. The diarist becomes increasingly paranoid that the people around him are cannibals, and then turns to study old text that reveals his country has a secret cannibalistic culture. Beneath society's false politeness, the voice of the preface, the diarist detects a violent besti...