This paper explores Eileen Chang’s works, particularly examining the short story Sealed Off from a comparative literary standpoint, and the influence this work has had on others through translation and more. Taking place in 1944 Shanghai,
“Sealed Off” depicts a man and woman who, stranded together on a tram, experience a fleeting romance within this confined setting. By examining three critical components—the cyclical framing of the narrative using "dots" and "dotted lines," the symbolism of newspaper essays mirrored in steamed buns, and the repeated motifs of the "good person" and "real person"—the analysis uncovers intertextual links between Chang’s story and the writings of Maupassant and Lu Xun. Moreover, the tale was shown to align with Chang’s recurring thematic concerns, moral reflections, and even her critiques of civilization.