| NOTE: This page only gives information about Wu Cheng'en from 2010 television series Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West. Wu Cheng'en from the 2011 novel Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West and 1999 novel Wu Cheng'en are not included as they are not considered Scrappies. |
| “ | I'm not crazy! I'm not crazy! I'll have a wife! I'll have a wife! | „ |
| ~ Wu Cheng'en, after Luo Pang taunting him |
Wu Cheng'en is the titular main protagonist of the 2010 television series Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West. It is claimed that the character is based on his historical counterpart, though the claim is heavily disputed and the dispute contributes to the reason why this Wu Cheng'en is a Scrappy.
Wu Cheng'en is portrayed by Liu Xiao Ling Tong and Wu Cheng'en's young self is portrayed by Zhang Haotian.
What Makes Him a Scrappy?[]
- While Wu Cheng'en is supposed to be a Love Exalted heroic writer and the author of Journey to the West, which are believed to be similar to his historical counterpart, the portrayal of Wu Cheng'en in the television series is viewed by many as a self-insert Marty Stu character.
- While the television series attempts to demonstrate that Wu Cheng'en is not interested in fame and fortune and is devoted to write Journey to the West, a supposedly positive portrayal of historical Chinese characters, the portrayal in the television series has been criticized. Critics accuse that Wu Cheng'en has been portrayed as an unemployed person who is financially depended on his wives and his official friends but refuses to attend imperial examination and become an official, something viewed by the critics as not feasible.
- While the television series attempted to demonstrate that Wu Cheng'en is a heroic character who would help the weak and poor without hesitation, another supposedly positive portrayal of historical Chinese characters, the portrayal in the television series has been criticized. Critics note that Wu Cheng'en himself does not play a major role in the supposed heroic actions, as he is supported by his wives and friends rather than himself when he encounters financial difficulties or political persecution. Further, critics view this Wu Cheng'en as an useless man child rather than a heroic writer.
- While the television series attempted to demonstrate that the Journey to the West is heavily inspired by Wu Cheng'en's own life, it is criticized that the television series has attempted to relate every story in Journey to the West to an event in Wu Cheng'en's life. For example, the television series has Wu Cheng'en being kept under a rockery by servants of supposed villainous Luo family and the event inspiring Wu Cheng'en to write Sun Wukong being kept under mountain by the Buddha, something the critics find unrealistic.
- While the television series attempted to demonstrate that Wu Cheng'en has devoted himself to the writing of Journey to the West and treasured Journey to the West, it is criticized that Wu Cheng'en has been portrayed as not having compassion and filial piety. In terms of Wu Cheng'en's compassion, critics believe that Wu Cheng'en reacts to his allies' sufferings with nothing but claim that he would finish Journey to the West for them. In terms of Wu Cheng'en's filial piety, critics believe that Wu Cheng'en should be responsible for the death of his father and his mother as Wu Cheng'en insists finishing Journey to the West and combating against the supposed villainous forces rather than following the route of "attending imperial examination and becoming an official", which has been criticized as unrealistic. Noticeably, the critics accept Wu Cheng'en's mother's rejection to Wu Cheng'en's idealism and reject to Wu Cheng'en's rejection to his mother's rejection.
External Links[]
- Wu Cheng'en on the Near Pure Good Wiki