在紅學的人物論述裡，一般都是以三個名字的變化來描述香菱一生的悲劇命運，形成一個固定的表述模式。本文有別於此，認為香菱一共有四個名稱變化，一再更換名字固然意味著失去了自己的主體性，但由於家族遺傳基因的關係，使得香菱始終保有一種明朗淳正的獨特稟賦和執著的詩性嚮往；並且在不斷改名的曲折過程中，「香菱」階段既是她的人生主場，也是堪稱幸福的一段時光。尤其是，從文本的事實確證與人物的心理分析，可見香菱與薛蟠演繹了一種獨特的愛情類型，並透過共有的「獃」字隱喻了雙方的天作之合，也許不比寶、黛的木石前盟浪漫動人，卻一樣地深刻用命，說明了小說家所敏於關注的乃是人性的複雜、心理的幽微與處境的多樣。

This article analyses Xiang-ling and shows that there are in total 4 changes in her tragic fate, each corresponding a change of her name--instead of the 3 changes that current studies on the figure usually describe. A change of name means somehow a loss of her own subjectivity. Still, Xiang-ling steadily keeps her clear and positive nature and her persistent poetic yearning. In her main life stage, which using the name Xiang-ling, she leads a happy life, wherein she co-composes a unique type of interpretation of love with Xue Pan. Based on careful text analysis, this article shows that a shared sillydedication (獃／呆) catches the natural fit of the couple. The love between the couple might be not so romantic or moving as the fore-life Wood-Stone Promise of Bao-yu (寶玉) and Dai-yu (黛玉), but it is equally profound, demanding and cherishable.