老舍作為中國現代文學史上的一個種要作家，他與同時期眾多的作家最的差異之處有二，其一在於他作品中表現出來強烈的「愛國主義」的意識，其二在於他對於傳統文化的喜愛、眷戀和護衛之情。這兩個特色貫穿老舍的創作生涯，不但形成老舍獨特的個人風格，也成為影響老舍的世界觀和創作關懷最重要的兩個因素。老舍的「愛國主義」既具有「下層旗人官兵」盡忠職守的責任感和中國古代士大夫對於「氣節」的堅持等傳統精神，又混雜了現代國家「國民義務」的觀念，因此是融合了傳統精神和現代思維的奇特產物。老舍的「愛國主義」精神進而影響他對「傳統文化」的態度，他一四面透過「文化批判」來反省中國的民族性，強調認真盡責的國民觀念，打破北京人敷衍鬼混的習性，以尋求中國的富強之道，但同時也由於「愛國主義」，使老舍產生強列的護衛傳統文化的心態，特別表現在他對於北京老風俗的眷戀和喜愛，以及他對資本主義商業行為、「洋奴」、「留洋知識份子」的抗拒和反感上。

Lao She plays an important role in modern Chinese literature. He was significantly different to his contemporary writers in two aspects. Firstly, he expressed strong patriotism in his works. Second, he was sentimentally attached to conventions and traditions and acted as a guard of those values. The two characteristics are seen everywhere in Lao She’s writing. Not only have they become his special personal style, but also have affected his view of world and concerns. Lao She as a patriot behaved like a lower Qi soldier, loyal, faithful and responsible, as well as feudal Chinese literati, persistent to moral integrity. His idea also mixed with moderns ‘citizen’s obligations’. The outcome is such as unique blend of traditional spirits and modern ideas. Lao She’s patriotism further influenced his view of traditions. He emphasized on being earnest and responsible, criticizing the old national pride and negligence of Pekingese. His aim was to build china as a wealthy and powerful country. On the other hand, such patriotism made him and avid defender of tradtions. This particularly showed on his fondness of Pekingese conventions and his resistance and antipathy toward capitalism, ‘worshippers of foreign stuff and those who had studied abroad.