


































Communication, Society and Media 
ISSN 2576-5388 (Print) ISSN 2576-5396 (Online) 

Vol. 8, No. 1, 2025 

www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/csm 

1 

 

Original Paper 

Narratives of Rebirth and Resistance: Exploring Identity, 

Redemption, and Cultural Critique in Female-Targeted Rebirth 

Literature 

Zhou Ya
1
, Deng Yan

1
, & Guanbao Liu

1* 

1 
Shanghai Lida University, Shanghai 201609, China 

* 
Guanbao Liu, Shanghai Lida University, Shanghai 201609, China 

 

Received: November 12, 2024   Accepted: December 18, 2024   Online Published: January 3, 2025 

doi:10.22158/csm.v8n1p1                         URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/csm.v8n1p1 

 

Abstract 

Rebirth narratives, as a unique literary phenomenon, have recently garnered significant attention in 

literary studies both domestically and internationally. Through protagonists’ rebirth experiences, these 

novels explore themes of identity reconstruction and life re-exploration, conveying profound reflections 

on the meaning of life and aspirations for the future. Compared to their male-targeted counterparts, 

female-centric rebirth novels tend to defy stereotypes, challenging gendered identities and conventional 

perceptions. By employing varied temporal, thematic, and character constructs, these works 

collectively advance the transformation of narrative structures. This paper aims to investigate the 

themes and narrative strategies of female-centric rebirth novels, analyzing how dual-layered narrative 

structures, diversified plot types, and resistance to mainstream culture profoundly express themes of 

identity reconstruction and life re-exploration. 

Keywords 

rebirth, narrative, women 

 

I. Current State of Research: Domestic and International Perspectives 

Research on identity reconstruction and life re-exploration within rebirth narrative frameworks has 

developed along several notable trends both internationally and domestically. Scholars are increasingly 

adopting an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates theories and methodologies from literary 

studies, psychology, and sociology to analyze rebirth narratives from a range of perspectives. This 

cross-disciplinary integration allows for a comprehensive understanding of rebirth as a cultural and 

psychological phenomenon, enriching the narrative’s interpretative depth (Chen, 2024; Hu, 2021). 



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In addition to thematic exploration, there is growing scholarly attention to the cultural logic and social 

critique embedded within rebirth narratives, with researchers investigating how these narratives reflect 

and critique specific social phenomena of contemporary society. For instance, Zhu (2024) suggests that 

the rebirth theme in contemporary online romance fiction often employs two parallel narrative lines, 

where characters’ past and present lives mirror and subvert one another, forming a distinctive life cycle. 

This structure combines entertainment with intellectual depth by drawing on elements from folklore to 

create a "second life" through the dynamic interplay of life and death, fulfilling readers’ desire for an 

immersive existential experience. Zhu’s analysis highlights how this exploration of a "second life" 

resonates with modern aspirations for varied modes of existence and an inquiry into the value of life 

itself. 

As narratology evolves, there is a growing focus on innovations in narrative strategy within rebirth 

novels, particularly the use of non-linear storytelling and multi-perspective narration. Xiao (2021) 

observes that many online rebirth novels feature a dual-layered narrative structure that includes both 

superficial and profound layers. In these stories, memories from the first life often aid the protagonist in 

shaping decisions in the second, creating a unique interplay between past knowledge and present 

choices. However, the deeper layer embodies the duality of known and unknown, where the second life 

remains filled with uncertainties despite past recollections. This dual-layered structure enhances the 

narrative’s compensatory function, allowing a profound exploration of life’s regrets, the limits of 

self-understanding, and an aesthetic reflection on the meaning and value of life. 

 

II. Thematic Analysis of Rebirth Narratives 

In rebirth novels, protagonists frequently undergo a process of identity reconstruction after 

experiencing rebirth. This reconstruction encompasses not only material changes, such as shifts in 

social status and financial circumstances, but also profound transformations in personality and values. 

In redemption-oriented rebirth novels, for instance, protagonists often seek to amend past regrets, 

achieve self-redemption, and reconstruct their identities. In The Rebirth of the General’s Poisonous 

Daughter, the protagonist Shen Miao suffers betrayal and abuse in her previous life. Following her 

rebirth, she not only takes preventive measures but also retaliates with resilience, underscoring how 

rebirth enables her to address past wrongs and reshape her identity. Another example is Beaten to Death 

and Reborn, I Abused My Entire Family, where Su An, previously meek and kind-hearted, is sold into 

an abusive marriage by her father and stepmother. Her rebirth grants her the courage to stand up to her 

family, reject unfair treatment, and alter her destiny. Through this newfound assertiveness, she escapes 

her oppressive circumstances, rebuilds her life, and initiates a new beginning after divorce by 

leveraging her prior experiences. 

 



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Beyond identity reconstruction, rebirth novels delve deeply into life re-exploration. Protagonists use the 

foreknowledge they retain to avoid previous mistakes and forge completely different life trajectories. 

This re-exploration is evident not only in choices related to life paths but also in profound reflections 

on life’s value and meaning. In The 1980s Mother is the Villainess, the female protagonist, reborn as a 

villainous character, strives to avert past tragedies by compensating the male lead. Through her 

transformation and acts of reconciliation, the novel explores the complexities of human nature and 

personal growth. Similarly, The Rebirth of a Married Couple depicts both protagonists working 

together after being reborn to strive for familial happiness and love, illustrating how they confront 

challenges, overcome previous regrets, and collaboratively navigate a renewed life. The Devil’s 

Temperature follows Bei Yao, who dedicates her rebirth to saving Pei Chuan, ultimately achieving not 

only his salvation but also her own spiritual redemption and inner rebirth. 

 

III. Narrative Strategies in Rebirth Narratives 

Rebirth novels targeted at female audiences often employ a dual-layered narrative structure, enhancing 

the story’s richness and complexity while also intensifying readers’ engagement. This narrative 

approach, recognized in narratology, integrates two or more interwoven narrative levels that influence 

each other. In female-centric rebirth novels, this structure commonly manifests as an intertwining of the 

protagonist’s past life (or first life) and present life (or second life). 

The superficial layer serves as a contrast between the two lives. In many rebirth novels, the 

protagonist’s previous life is marred by regret, pain, or failure, whereas the present life offers a fresh 

start. For example, Beaten to Death and Reborn, I Abused My Entire Family showcases this contrast 

vividly. In her past life, the protagonist Su An is submissive and silent in the face of injustice, yet after 

her rebirth, she transforms into a bold and assertive figure. She bravely stands up to her family, parts 

ways with toxic relationships, and embarks on a new life journey. By contrasting choices and outcomes 

across these two lives, the novel emphasizes the diversity and possibilities of life, highlighting the 

protagonist’s growth and change after rebirth. 

At a deeper level, the dual structure reflects the tension between the known and the unknown. Although 

the protagonist retains memories of a past life, the new life still harbors unpredictability and uncertainty. 

This duality deepens the narrative, amplifying the novel’s appeal while also delving into existential 

themes like human fallibility, self-awareness limits, and life’s inherent worth. Through this layered 

structure, rebirth novels fulfill both an entertaining and compensatory role in literature, allowing 

readers to explore missed opportunities and new beginnings. 

Additionally, rebirth novels employ a narrative strategy known as “branching pathways.” Here, 

protagonists often face life-altering choices that diverge significantly from those of their past lives, 

creating unique destinies. For instance, in The Apocalypse Expert Travels Back to the 1950s, the 



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protagonist Xia Yanru, a survivor of the apocalypse, travels back to the 1950s and uses her intelligence 

and unique abilities to create an impressive new life in a resource-scarce environment. Similarly, in The 

Spoiled Girl Reborn in the Age of Literature, Han Dynasty Empress Chen Ajiao is reborn as a village 

girl in the 1970s. Rather than acting spoiled and entitled, she adjusts to her new identity and pursues 

happiness through adaptation. By portraying distinct fates resulting from different choices, these novels 

explore the complexities of life, stressing how past experiences inform wiser choices in the reborn 

characters’ quests for redemption and growth. 

Female-oriented rebirth novels exhibit a diversity of plot types, including revenge narratives, palace 

intrigue, empowerment arcs, sweet romance, business entrepreneurship, and science fiction fantasy. 

These varied plots not only enrich the content of rebirth novels but also demonstrate the protagonists’ 

different paths and experiences in identity reconstruction and life re-exploration. 

Revenge-driven rebirth novels typically revolve around past injustices and betrayals suffered by the 

protagonist, who, reborn, seeks vengeance with passion and strategy. These novels are often fast-paced 

and suspenseful, providing readers with a sense of catharsis and emotional engagement. For example, 

in Spring Banquet, Princess Li Huaiyu is poisoned but returns as a commoner determined to outwit her 

enemies. Similarly, After Rebirth, I Became a Face-Slapping Protagonist follows a protagonist who 

uses her talents to avenge past humiliations, earning her a formidable reputation. 

Palace intrigue is another popular subgenre, featuring protagonists of noble birth navigating complex 

familial and political conflicts. The Story of Minglan, for instance, follows a young woman who 

matures within a feuding noble family, eventually securing a prominent position. Another example, 

Phoenix in Captivity, centers on Princess Liu Chuyu, a woman with modern sensibilities reborn in 

ancient China. Through these narratives, the novels explore themes of resilience, intelligence, and 

social critique. 

Growth-centered rebirth novels depict protagonists overcoming challenges to achieve personal growth. 

In Fat Campus Belle, the protagonist is mocked for her weight but uses her rebirth as a chance to 

transform her life and achieve her dreams. Similarly, The Genius Physician and Wastrel Consort 

follows a protagonist who overcomes limitations with her skills and resilience, blending elements of 

adventure and self-empowerment. 

Sweet romance rebirth novels emphasize emotional development and romantic dynamics, often 

infusing the narrative with warmth and nostalgia. The Splendid Marriage of the 1980s tells the story of 

a woman who returns to a crucial turning point in her life, determined to achieve both love and success. 

With historical backdrops, these novels blend romance and life exploration, highlighting personal 

empowerment. Another example, Reborn Space Wife, follows a protagonist navigating life and love in 

the 1980s, using magical space elements to add a unique twist to her journey. 

 



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Entrepreneurship-focused rebirth novels emphasize ambition and financial independence, where 

protagonists leverage past experiences to succeed in business. Rebirth as a Financial Mogul describes a 

woman using future insights to navigate the 2014 financial market, ultimately creating an empire. 

Likewise, in After Kicking Out My Scumbag Husband, I Achieved Financial Freedom, the protagonist 

defies patriarchal constraints to build a flourishing career, embodying the novel’s feminist message. 

Lastly, science fiction rebirth novels combine speculative elements with rebirth, presenting a vibrant 

world of superpowers and futuristic adventures. In Return to the Apocalypse, the protagonist prepares 

for an impending apocalypse, using foreknowledge to ensure her family’s survival. Similarly, in She 

Reborn and Became a Killer in the Apocalypse, a woman reborn with special abilities carves out a 

powerful role in a post-apocalyptic world. 

Beyond narrative diversity, rebirth novels also embody resistance to mainstream cultural norms. This 

defiance manifests as a rejection of traditional values, a challenge to patriarchal authority, and a 

subversion of literary conventions. These novels provide readers with fresh perspectives that encourage 

reflection on and critique of dominant social values. 

A common form of resistance is the rejection of traditional values such as forgiveness and self-sacrifice. 

In classical literature, protagonists often respond to harm with kindness, but in rebirth novels, the 

protagonist’s past suffering often results in a more assertive stance, valuing self-empowerment over 

passive endurance. For instance, in The Rebirth of the General’s Poisonous Daughter, the protagonist 

Shen Miao, betrayed in her previous life, actively seeks revenge upon rebirth. This principle of 

“repaying kindness and avenging betrayal” signifies a departure from traditional values of tolerance 

and patience. 

Rebirth novels also challenge the patriarchal structures that have traditionally dictated social order. In 

The Malicious Daughter, Li Weiyang, originally a powerless illegitimate child, uses her rebirth to claim 

agency, dismantling family power structures and asserting her place. Her journey to prominence 

critiques the established gender norms, offering an empowering model for readers. 

Finally, rebirth novels subvert traditional literary norms by adopting a lighter, more relatable tone, 

distinguishing them from the gravitas of conventional literature. Through humor and accessible 

language, novels like The Strongest Empress redefine rebirth tropes, prioritizing wit and resilience over 

vengeance. The Urban Cultivation of Rebirth uses popular vernacular to attract younger readers, adding 

vibrancy to the rebirth genre and modernizing its appeal. 

These various dimensions of cultural resistance illustrate the genre’s significance to its readers, 

particularly women, by addressing psychological and aesthetic needs while advancing the genre’s 

evolution in the literary landscape. However, some rebirth novels may include themes of excessive 

violence or moral ambiguity, which could potentially impact readers’ perceptions. 

 



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IV. Conclusion 

Contemporary female-oriented rebirth novels, through their unique narrative frameworks, illustrate the 

protagonists’ journeys of identity reconstruction and life re-exploration, highlighting various emotional 

and experiential facets of these transformations. By employing a dual-layered narrative structure, a 

diverse array of plot types, and a countercultural stance, rebirth novels fulfill readers’ desires to address 

life’s regrets while expressing profound reflections on alternate life paths. These novels not only offer 

readers an enriching literary experience but also hold distinctive value and significance within the 

broader literary landscape. 

 

References 

Chen, H., & Zhang, X. (2024). Mechanisms of pleasure, youth anxiety, and unfulfilled healing: The 

superficial games and deep symptoms of online rebirth novels. Ningxia Social Sciences, 3, 

207-216. 

Hu, Q. (2021). The sorrow of forgetting the river and bidding farewell to the world: A discussion on 

ancient rebirth and transmigration literature. Hundred Commentaries, 2, 45-52. 

Xiao, X. (2021). The dual-layer narrative structure in online rebirth novels. Chinese Literary Criticism, 

2, 108-114+160. 

Zhu, H. (2024). Life experiences behind “rebirth” in online romance novels. Zhongyuan Literature, 38, 

3-5. 


