解读《名利场》中的女性主义.doc

分类号: H31 密 级： 无 学士学位论文解读名利场中的女性主义An Analysis of Feminism in Vanity Fair系别 专业： 西语系 英语专业姓名 学号： 赵雪娇 1233428年级 班级： 2012级 4班指导教师及职称： 孙桂荣 副教授2016年4月吉林师范大学博达学院学位论文原创性声明本人郑重声明：所呈交的学位论文，是本人在指导教师的指导下，独立进行研究工作所取得的成果。除了论文中特别加以标注的地方外，论文中不包含其他人已经发表或撰写过的研究成果。申请学位论文与资料若有不实之处，本人承担一切相关责任。 作者签字：赵雪娇日期：2016年 4 月 13 日 指导教师签字：日期： 年月 日摘要 小说名利场是英国19世纪著名批判现实主义作家萨克雷的成名作品。作品刻画了截然不同的而又相关交连的两位女性人物贝基、夏普和艾米莉亚、赛得利。通过这两个女人的悲欢离合，萨克雷反应的是维多利亚时代一个以男性为主导的社会，当时社会风气的腐化堕落和伦理道德败坏的现状。造就了一种以艾米莉亚为代表的“家中的天使”的女性形象。而另一种则是以夏普为代表的对当时这种父权制的反抗，勇于向维多利亚习俗挑战，敢于追求财富和地位的女性形象。关键词 名利场，女性形象，维多利亚时代，反抗Abstract The Vanity Fair is a famous novel that was wrote by the critical realism writer Thackeray in 19th century. it describes two different and related girls, Rebecca and Amelia. Thackeray reveals a male-dominated society at Victorian age from the vicissitudes of two women. it s a corrupt and immoral social culture. It creates a “angle in the house” female image that represented by Amelia and the other is a brave to rebel patriarchy, to challenge against Victorian customs, to pursuit wealth and position female image that represented by Rebecca.Key words Vanity fair, Female image, Victorian age, Rebel1. Introduction 1.1 Thackeray s life and his Vanity FairWilliam Makepeace Thackeray is one of the greatest critical realists of 19th century. Thackeray was born in July 1811 in Indian Calcutta ,and died in December 1863 in London, he was sent to England to study at six years old and inherited his fathers heritage at adult, but soon squandered, and then he studied law and drawing but not succeed, a series of the experience of failure that make him familiar with all levels of upper-middle-class, and later to practice writing writes for newspapers and magazines, published essays, travel notes, etc. Thackeray is a prolific writer. The works more than 35 volumes. His early works are humorous story and poetry. He created critical realism novel at the middle and published vanity fair in 1848. The book established his position in the English literature, and he is considered the great counterpart to dickens in the mid-Victorian novel. He writes novel try to be objective , not hide and distort the facts in his love or desire. There is not a hero in the story so vanity fairs sub title is “not hero novels”. This also the innovation of vanity fair . the story originated from the British upper-middle class in the 19th century. The country prosperous , industry and commerce developed by crushing colonies or exploited labors and a rich merchant who is charge of the society. England and France fight the war for title. The upper-middle class all kinds of characters fight for fame and profit , so called “Bustling world, all for profit , and the world, all for reward”. The main plot of vanity fair can be divided into two clues. The one clue is Rebecca s story of desire and the other clue is the romance of pure, short-sighted Amelia and empty shallow George.(Thackeray 2012: XI).The purpose of this paper is to borrow Amelia and Rebecca s character image to analyze Victorian women image and position, and to reveal the diffuse the steep profits and selfish nature of capitalism.1.2 Women s image in Victorian England The social background at that time, the status of women were very low in 19th century. Not only express the dependence of economy and polity, but also is limited by the power of education compared with the men. Women are considered brainless and the most women all agree that. Virginia, wolf thought the reasons that “in a large extent are laws and customs” caused this situation of England women. Victorian men to confirm their value and status by dominate and control women. They require women must chastity, obedience, kindness and dedication. This is a typical patriarchal society to give women the moral standard chastity: Victorian upper class requires women must be loyal for her husband. Women as men s accessories naturally be loyal for her husband even worship. In the patriarchal society of the time, men and women have a big different status. Just as Engels said:” usually women is considered a crime and to cause grave legal and social consequences, for the man was thought to be a glorious, at most however be regarded as a small blemish that can be accept in moral. Rebecca as a opposite teaching material. She seduced the men and got the infatuation of men, therefore promoting to a higher position. As last the amour was found by her husband Rawdon, she all reputation and be a vagabond. On the other hand, Amelia is loyal to her husband, even her husband died in war, every time she want to repay Dobbin. “Georges shadow immediately from the grave stood up and said:” You are mine, cant belong to others. Youre mine now, you can only belong to me in future.”(1) From the fate of two women was arranged by author. A women spurned by people, a women praised by people. We can know the importance of chastity in that society. Obedience: Whatever the fate, husband or passers by in life, the attitude all different of Rebecca and Amelia. Rebecca disobeyed the poor life and marriage. After marriage, she also disobeyed with Rawdon. She is a representative of feminism, but the seeds of this hint of feminist subjected the attacks of male chauvinism. Therefore, even in the intrigue of fame in the field. She has to pretend to obey, because this is the mens ideal of “femininity”. Its the only way to climb the social most high end. Kindhearted: the kindhearted is not only reflected in fame and the attitude of money, it depends more on dealing with things and the relationship of people. Rebecca never contact with the people who dont have the interest relationship, so when Rebecca left nobody sad but Amelia likes a single round pebbles. when she left, they are all cry. However in the male as the center of society. Men all like Amelia. Dedication: dedication in women is an eternal topic . In the Victorian period, wife, mother should devote everything for her husband. Children and family, Amelia is the typical of this spirit. For her husbands loyalty is only a small part of the dedication. After the loss of her husband. Amelia treats her son as her life. When her son is not around, she often walks long distance to see her sons window. She is a great wife and mother.2. Amelia Sedley the Victorian Angel in the House2.1 Obedient and kindhearted AmeliaIn the story, Amelia is a obedient daughter, loyal wife. conscientious mother. kindhearted friend. She is a typical representative of “angel in the house” in Victorian age. Amelia was born in a rich family. She had a good education in the child. She studied in the famous Pinkerton s female academy in England. She finished all the courses that was required by the upper class society. Including music, dance, orthography, embroidery, sewing, geographical and physical courses. These courses of study to Amelia has a rich knowledge and good moral self-cultivation and she is very friendly to the students. In the school, Amelia is a popular girl, because the family background, hard work and gentle character, she has many admiration and love. Thackeray called her” a lovely little animal” and “ good character”. She cried for a dead canary. Or cried for a mouse was caught by a cat. She was vulnerable. Such as someone said to her not friendly, then this person is very bad for her. Rebecca and Amelia learn in the same Pinkerton s female academy. After graduation, the kindhearted Amelia gets the homeless Rebecca to home. Rebecca want to get the wealth and achieve her dream. She was very humble, she quickly won the favor of Amelias family and the friendship of Amelia. So Amelia want to help Rebecca and her brothers marriage. Amelia also sent her things to her friend Rebecca. Thackeray in the novel describes respectively the scene: the two of them devotion to cuddle with, the most pathetic tears, the smelling-bottle, and some of the very best feelings of the heart. A person sincerely, another person do a wonderful false play(Thackeray 2012: 125) .2.2 Spineless and parasitic Amelia Amelia has some obvious shortcomings. She is weak and timid, dependent on others without the ability to face difficulties or unhappy things. She cant deal with by herself. She will cry or avoid rather than trying to solve , she wont to use her brain or advantage in most cases in to yield. Her husband George died in the war. she became a widow, her father go bankrupt. Her father in law old Osborne kept prejudice and hostility to her. Amelia just bear silently. She wont to change it. Just when her son born that gave her some comfort. Another example also illustrates Amelias gentle and incompetent, self deception and self destruction. In a party, Rebecca flirted with her husband. Dancing together. But Amelia sat in a dark corner. Obviously she was abandoned by her husband but she doesnt know. Amelia is useless and always to put the hope of life on others. She wants to get assistance and protection from others. The author called her “ weak parasites”. Amelia loves vain, vacuous and rich George with her all energy. In her mind, George is her sun. George goes to play gamble and entertainment, she thought her husband must be busy in the troop and Georges sisters often purposely make difficulties for her. After the bankruptcy of her father, Georges father tore off their engagement, but the lovesick Amelia still refused to give up the love for George. With the help of Dobbin, Amelia and George married secretly. However when George knew his economy was cut off by his father. He very regretful. In the honeymoon, George started to pursue pleasure outside. Amelia was desolated, but her love didnt change, even after George died, she put him as God. She thought her married to a good man like angel wont be able to marry anyone, the son is her only hope of wife. She thought her son is most beautiful and smart child in the world, because he is the incarnation of George.2.3 Sacrificial and vacuous AmeliaBecause of her selfish and narrow-minded, she always living in a fantasy world she cant cherish Dobbin who give her happy. It caused Dobbin very painful. In this full of intriguers, selfish and cruel world. Dobbin is very conscientious, sympathetic, sincere, unprejudiced and generous, but spoony and stupid in love. Dobbin consistently loved Amelia, but in order to Amelia, he put his love to Amelia buried in the heart, to help her and her lover George married secretly. After the bankruptcy of her father, in the property auction. Dobbin bought her beloved piano with a high price in secret and gave it to her. At this time, Amelia thought this her beloved husband bought back to her. After her husband George died. Dobbin took out his own salaries gave her as the cost of living. After the child was born, he took care of her and her child. For more than ten years, Dobbin devoted and waited silently, the hair was white, the heart was also tired. Dobbin said:” You(Amelia) is not worthy of my contribution to your love. So ,in terms of feelings, Amelia is selfish, the life of Amelia is relying on the illusion of survival. So she lives empty, she didnt want to marry Dobbin, but would like to have his heart forever. Until one day, Rebecca told Amelia the disloyalty of George, Dobbin got his lover. The author also sends out such a sigh:” you this delicate parasitic vine, I would like you to twin a starchy old oak trees, to grown new leaves.” The author didnt give praise to the perfect model of the society at that time on the contrary, she was satirized as a social victim.3. Rebecca sharpthe Victorian Rebel3.1 The expression of masculinityThe brainpower but uninhibited Rebecca let people love-hate relationship for her. It is Thackeray contradictory female views caused Rebecca both the synthesis of femininity and masculinity. This” double body” ideal states in Woolf Virginias novel Orlando also has been confirmed. From the domination of the patriarchal system to the radical feminism. The gender opposition from one to other extreme, until the “ double body” beyond the concept of gender can really achieve the ideal states of equality between men and women femininity and masculinity are perfect fusion in Rebecca, because of this, Rebecca has also become a literary works in a unique charm of the role. The ideal masculine temperament has a wide range of powers and abilities: controlling the power of women, controlling the power of other men, controlling their bodies, and the ability to manipulate and control technology. And Rebecca often show a dominant male temperament, it dominates the Rebecca and dominates the men and women around her. Mothers death makes her lack the femininity of social traditional family, opposite her father lived with her and gave her the enlightenment of masculinity. Although Rebeccas father is a rogue, but talented. Rebecca thinks his speech is fun more than the gossiping of women, so she never contact with women. Rebecca realized when she following her father, the men beside her can accompany all time, she would rather lose the most lively banquet and dance. But the pride of the young lady who never ignored her, in the Pinkerton women s school with those children mixed for two years, that didnt inspire her innately lack of maternal mood. The experiences of teenage has taught the Rebecca the importance of money and status. She is a traitorous girl who unwilling to obey the fate. After she stepped in to society. The others contempt to her as a reason for the pursuit of desire. In the drive of masculinity, Rebecca is the most incisive interpretation of this desire. Rebecca can control herself perfectly, Rebecca of unwilling to obey always holds her own destiny, no matter she is the pursuit of social or abandoned by society. Outspoken against miss Pinkerton to require her labor interests is the first attack of Rebecca. When she graduated from the Pinkerton women school. She was unceremoniously throw the dictionary out the window and made the people under her feet who ever despised her. In order to change her poor fate, she can ignore the people despised or admirable eyes around her. she relied on marriage and cling to the powerful people. she clam to upper class society crazy. Rebecca initiative to seduce bloated cowardly Jos. Proposal setbacks but also let her sad and angry for a while, soon she began to go to Crawley to try her fortune. Although unfortunately missed the old selfish sir Pitts proposal. Rebecca also readily accepted the reality that Rawdon cant inherit the property from Miss Crawley. Married Rebecca skillfully deal in various dignitaries, living the high life. Although the “amour” of Rebecca and Lord Steyne was found by Rawdon, and caused the unbearable past was revealed, and she was expelled from upper class society forever, but she also had a wonderful life in wandering days. Throughout Rebecca ups and downs of life, she had humble childhood, and had scenery wonderful life of upper class society, and also had wandering miserable life in the middle, but alternately in the fate of ups and downs, Rebecca is firmly control her own life, and had a true life belong to her own. And Rebecca can skillfully control of men, in the marriage Rebecca kept a active dominate position and even let her husband Rawdon automatically relegated to the status of “subordinate male temperament” . After the marriage, Rebbecas personal charm to make this wine field Rawdon to become a obedient good husband. The longer the time, he is more dependent on his wife, from the beginning of the love and appreciation to the later worship and admiration. Rawdon vowed to praise his wife, he said her ability of cheat creditors without a person can catch in European women. Rawdon thought to marry such a wife the use is not really small. When Rebecca humorously told her husband that she gets money from Jos with a good method, her husband listened to it happy almost to crazy, He knew in his heart that he is not smart enough, not worthy of her, he willing to listen to her arrangement to obey absolutely. Rawdon adored Rebecca just like Amelia adored George. On the other hand, Rebecca began to despise Rawdon. When they entire the upper class society step by step, in the splendid luxurious palace, Rebecca is regarded as a identity of guest. The Rawdon mixed in the middle of the Duchess and the ladies of the court were bored to yawn, and continues to mixed with his congenial friends. In this period of better days, Rebecca despised her husband get along with those young frank officers in the daily life. Since the birth of her son, Rebecca has been indifferent. Looking at Rawdon so like his son, Rebecca was more despised for her husband. It had the same effect, that George disliked Amelia gets along with shameful women. The scene on the battlefield, the different attitude of Rawdon and Rebecca also proved their roles were exchanged. Rawdon regretted the owe a gambling debt. He afraid it will troubles his wife, he was busy with his troubles, counting the funeral can give her wife how much property. Compared to sentimental Rawdon, Redecca is calm. She joked Rawdon and said sweet words to coax him. Rebecca thought how to begin her new life if Rawdon died in the war. Even in the war, Rebecca still thinking how to get money from Jos. Not only her husband to be docile and obedient, in society, Rebecca is like a duck to water around the men. When Rebecca presents some places. There are always full of gunpowder of women and coveted eyes of men. Rebecca knows energy and the effect of a beau