论《简爱》中的女性意识.doc

An Analysis of the Feminist Consciousness of Jane Eyre论简爱中的女性意识 摘 要简爱是英国著名的女作家夏洛蒂.勃朗特的代表作品，由于她成功地塑造了一个典型的人物简爱，她也因此被认为是一位卓越的女作家。这部作品一经出版，简爱这个人物就引起了人们极大的关注，她表现出早期女权主义者的某些特征，主要表现在她敢于反抗压迫和社会偏见，努力争取独立，自由，平等和真爱，为追求幸福生活而顽强斗争，宣告了女性自我意识的觉醒。本文首先通过事例分析对简爱的女性意识的表现进行介绍，着重描写她的人格平等意识；维护女性尊严，追求独立人格的意识；强烈的爱情和婚姻自主意识；追求经济上的独立意识。然后从个人和社会因素分析简爱这种意识形成的原因。最后简要分析简爱的这种女性意识对当今女性的启迪意义，从中挖掘现代女性所应具备的个性品质。关键词：女性意识；尊严；真爱；独立II2 AbstractJane Eyre is the most famous work written by Charlotte Bronte in England. By creating successfully the typical figure, Jane Eyre, is also considered as an extraordinary woman novelist. When the book is published, the character of Jane Eyre has caught peoples broad attention. She showed some of the characteristics of early feminists, such as the persistence to rebel and fight bravely against the social oppression and discrimination, her unremitting efforts of pursuing freedom, equality, independence and true love and she always tries her best to seek for a happy life. That declared the awakening of female self-consciousness. At first, this essay attempts to introduce Jane female consciousness through an analysis of some cases happened to her, and a plenty of works will be done to describe her personal equality consciousness, her maintaining the dignity of woman and the pursuing of her independence both in marriage and economy. Then next part analyzes the causes of the formation of Jane Eyres female consciousness from the aspects of individuality and society. In the end, an analysis of revealing will be made about the female consciousness of Jane Eyre for women today, from which it can be seen obviously that the modern female have their own personal traits.Key Words: female consciousness, self-respect, true love, independenceI2 Contents 摘 要IAbstractII1. Introduction12. The Performance of Female Consciousness of Jane Eyre22.1 Personal Equality Awareness22.2 The Pursuit of Dignity and Independence42.3 The Pursuit of Love and Marriage52.4 Independent Awareness in Economy63. The Causes of the Formation of Jane Eyres Female Consciousness73.1 The Individual Factors73.2 Family Factors83.3 The Social Factors84. The Revealing of Janes Female Consciousness for Modern Female94.1The Influence of Jane Eyre94.2 The Significance for Modern Female105. Conclusion10Bibliography12Acknowledgements131. IntroductionCharlotte Bronte is a great critical realist in the 19th century who was born in a poor family at Thornton Yorkshire. Her father is a country clergy man who has three daughters, and the another two are Anne Bronte and Emily Bronte. Wuthering Heights was a great work written by her sister Emily and the other sister Anne has ever published Agnes Grey. Their novels based on their miserable lives are very popular in the word. Charlotte Bronte went to a charity school where bad food and poor living conditions were provided, and then, she was removed from the school to start a sketchy learning at home. She had been in a boarding school, and later was appointed as a family teacher. She has not received much formal schooling in her youth, but wide reading and home education seemed to give full play to her imagination. She had written lots of works in her long life. In 1842, Charlotte learned French for nine months in Brussels, and got a job. The job gave her a chance to work there as a teacher for one year. Later, she got married with a clergyman, but less than one year she died in 1855. Her masterpiece, Jane Eyre, is a world famous novel in 1847, and has been translated into many languages. She later wrote a great number of works in the past 40 years, which made her enjoy a high reputation.Jane Eyre is a novel written by Charlotte Bronte based on her own experiences, which is her most famous work. This novel has brought public attention and a heated discussion for over 150 years. On the surface, Jane Eyre is about a love story that tells us the beautiful love between a poor young woman Jane Eyre and a rich man Mr. Rochester. But when we read it carefully, it can be found out that this work is not only a simple love story, but also reflects some social issues in Victorian. Eyre is an orphan who is plain, timid and weak. She is ill-treated seriously by her relatives. She rebelled and fought bravely against the social oppression and discrimination, made unremitting efforts of pursuing freedom, equality, independence and true love and she always tries her best to seek for a happy life, which makes her a tough character with strong self-respect, beautiful ideal and wisdom. It can be seen that Jane Eyre, a marvelous figure, has left us so much to recall and to think: she is a special image out of ordinary. She has the bravery to express her own idea and creates her own life. She always works hard and keeps her self-respect, intelligence and her tough personality under the pressure of life. In her point of view, everyone is not different at the same sky. Though there are differences in status, property and appearance, but all the human beings are equal in personality. She represents those middle-class working women who are struggling for the recognition of their basic rights and equality as a human being. Jane tries her best to gain womens liberation and to pursue freedom, equality and true love in spite of all difficulties. She began to understand the true meaning of life, and tried to brave and strong to live. She thinks its her spirit that makes the life meaningful. Jane Eyre was Charlotte Brontes own embodiment to resist the oppression of the traditional morality. The heroine Jane moves most readers as a unique image in spite of her plainness, poverty and low position. There is no doubt that this novel is of great importance in the history of world literature, and a new image it creates gives a profound meaning about Janes personalities. It can be said that Jane Eyre is an excellent declaration of women. It is Jane Eyres female consciousness that awakens womens strong desire for liberation. This thesis manifests the females situations under the traditional morality in Victorian age. Jane Eyre fights against to break the traditional morality at that time, which is the appearance of feminine consciousness. Womens pursuing of equal social status like men and independence in life can be easily found.2. The Performance of Female Consciousness of Jane Eyre2.1 Personal Equality AwarenessWomen were discriminated against by men and almost had no right at Victorian Age because man dominated and controlled everything, including woman. However, Jane Eyre dares to challenge men authority and traditional ideas in the process of going for the freedom and equality in her life. One of the eternal sights is her powerful confession of love. In a pleasant evening, to tempt Jane Eyre, Rochester said he was going to marry Miss Ingram, but also expressed that he was passionately in love with Jane. He hoped that Jane would stay with him. Jane Eyre immediately retorted: “Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?-a machine without feelings? And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!-I have as much soul as you,-and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;-it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at Gods feet, equal,-as we are!” (Charlotte Bronte, 2007: 23) Here, Jane Eyre thought that her pride was hurt, and pure emotions played a trick by the traditional concept, so she sent out the angry voice under the patriarchal culture depressed women and gave a call of equality between men and women. In this section of the confession of love, it can be found that the poor consciousness and the sense of the slave of the employees are far from Jane Eyre. Some others thought that she was easy to look down on, thanks to her ugly looks and poor family. So when someone met Jane Eyre, they always seemed quite contemptuous, for that they think that they obviously much prettier than Jane. But as the little Jane had said: Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! (Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre, 2003: 67) from that the idea of equality was showed strongly in Jane Eyres mind. She was not given the beautiful looks and an amount of money, but everyone is equal in the eyes of God, and Jane is not an exception. She has a kind heart and a thinking brain, which is different from others. What she impresses us most is her awareness of everyone is equal and the sense of self-respect. The strong power can be felt in her small body. Jane Eyre never forgets that she is equal with other people when in the face of that arrogant noble young lady. She always insists on the principle of equality between men and women. She said angrily and discontentedly: “women generally are considered to be very loyal, but they also have the same feeling with man. And they, like their brothers, also need to play their talents to the full, to exert them to the harsh environment.” (Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre, 1997:45) the book shows its uniqueness and force because of Janes insistence on equality and shocked many women around the world. In order to strive for equality, Jane made a strong resistance. It can be said that Jane played the female consciousness of that age. 2.2 The Pursuit of Dignity and IndependenceJanes strong independent awareness has an impact on the people from other parts of the world. She was thrown into a survival environment where her parents were dead. However, it is possible for Jane to pursue her self consciousness and self rights. Aunts contempt, cousins insult and beat and the snobbishness of the servants, these are never made her give up. Instead, she rises up to struggle against opponents with terrible fear, and never compromises. Jane Eyre begun to realize that she had to rely on nobody but herself to get the respect from others at the Lockwood boarding schools. Although constantly humiliated in school, she didnt sink in humiliation. She got her strength to obtain independence from her dear teacher and fellow students. Maria Temple, an independent woman, is the headmaster of the Institution. She has a responsible attitude toward students and sees everyone equally, even the low students. From then on, Jane began to realize that independence is of great importance thing for everyone to fulfill their values, which is a meaningful lesson she leaned from Maria Temple. Later Jane made great progress in the aspect of her studies and won the respect and understanding from her teachers and students. Eventually she succeeds and gains respect and popularity from the people around her. Later Jane began her teaching career, which made her be independent economically. Without economic independence, female liberation movement would be impossible. When Rochester provided Jane with a chance to free her passions, Jane came to realize that she would be sacrificing her dignity for the sake of her feelings, so she refused without hesitation, because she thought that the freedom and independence she achieved by living as Rochesters mistress is shameful and disgraceful. From the point of Janes view, everyone is equal in terms of personality, without regard to their different status, property and appearance. Love must be based on equality and mutual independence. Women with independent personality, self-esteem, self-love, but not attached to the other people can get others respect, love and real happiness. So when the rights and dignity was invaded, she will be desperate to resist for their human dignity.2.3 The Pursuit of Love and Marriage In Britain, at that time, it is difficult for women to obtain a majority position that truly belongs to them. Women dont free to choose a spouse and to enjoy freedom. But Jane is a woman full of new love. She has the bravery to be against the social order and convention. The love between her and Mr. Rochester is on the basis of equal exchange mind and spiritual communion, especially on the emotional communication. That is a kind of love of soul calling soul. She insists on that she doesnt need any stranger who has no common language and is incompatible with her. She needs a type of person with me; she can get emotional resonance together. Love is equal and need mutual exchanges. This is the first criteria of mate selection in Jane Eyres view. She is just a poor teacher with a small figure and no charming beauty, and she hasnt a noble position, an illustrious background, and an amount of wealth or a beautiful appearance. The only proud thing is her self-respect and her staunch independence. She never expects Rochester to love her for that she thinks there is a wide gap between them. In order to not lose herself, Jane always keeps her self-respect and independence when they fall in love. Therefore she has won the love of Rochester. It can be acknowledged that the reason lies in her unique personality and bright spirit that is her most valuable personality. It is said that love is the most beautiful thing in the world, which can bring human beings the spiritual happiness and delighted warmth. However, some people regard their love as goods that can be sold and measure their marriage by some materialistic staff, such as social status, money and power. Maybe they have never tasted the true love. Jane and Rochester love each other; the true love is their common goal that can enjoy the same thing. They can break the bonds of tradition and surpass all obstacles. More efforts like that have been done to achieve true love after they experienced a lot of sufferings. Eventually Jane falls in love with Mr. Rochester who has rich experience and wisdom, but not for his wealth and high rank. Rochester loves Jane for her unique character. Honesty should be based on mutual trust and play a very important role in love. Communication is also very important in inter-personal relationships, especially in love. Two people during the time of loving, they will communicate with each other honestly and share the same interest. Then they can have a perfect love. Jane and Rochester are just like this. At the beginning, they have some certain love feelings due to their frank exchanges. Jane understands and loves Rochester more when he tells all things about what happened in his past. Actually, Rochester sees Jane as a real independent person, not an employee or the slave of man and has a strong desire to get true love from her. When it comes to Janes love, her marriage has to be built on equality, mutual respect and honesty. She looks down upon the people who get married for money, status and any other beneficial things and refuses to be a puppet especially in the rich family. She truly loves Rochester and has nothing to do with his wealth and social status. 2.4 Independent Awareness in Economy In the novel Jane Eyre Charlotte expressed strongly a view that female must achieve independence in economy. Charlotte mentioned that, no more than one, if the unmarried women have not their own property, they have to face the hard situation of their low status and aimless to live. She also thought women should not be the goods of the market for sale, but should actively fight for their position, and pursue the spiritual liberation and personality independence that is on the basis of economic independence. It is very necessary for womans liberation and their dignity, personality and position.Jane does not want to be the slave of money and to rely on others. She falls in deep love with Rochester. But he does not want Jane to go on working he wishes Jane belongs to him completely and considers Jane as his property. Jane refuses his suggestion without any hesitationIn her opinion，if she loses her job, she must depend on Rochester to live，thus economic independence says goodbye to her. She thinks that a kind of independence in property may also be a kind of comfort. She does not want to be piece of personal belongs of Rochester. At last, she decides to preserve her independence. In the beginning of the novel, economic factors have obvious performance. Her father left her no penny in childhood, so she had to be a sponsor with abuse and humiliation. But through her own hard work, she had a job, a family teacher, which made her gain independence in economy. And at the same time, she also paid more attention to seek spiritual freedom. This freedom and independence are to maintain the foundation of all rights. Eventually she was married Rochester whose a large number of heritage burnt in a big fire. Here, it can be found that Jane pursuit of economic independence is just the way of the achievement her independent personality.3. The Causes of the Formation of Jane Eyres Female Consciousness3.1 The Individual FactorsJane Eyre has her own wisdom, courage and knowledge to achieve a happy life and realize her values, from which she comes to be recognized and respected. Her positive attitude towards life and the confidence in her own experiences make her take a turn for the betterFrankness and rejoicing is her hopeful attitude toward her unfortunate life. In Janes long life road, her attitude was formed from her life experiences, her feelings and viewpoints, and the life attitude also experiences a process of growth and maturation. Jane Ey