女性主义视角下斯嘉丽.docx

女性主义视角下斯嘉丽奥哈拉的性格特点中文摘要1926年，美国著名作家玛格丽特米歇尔创作了飘，耗时近十年才得以出版。飘是一部表现美国南北战争前后旧南方人们生活及心理变化的爱情小说。尽管那个时代男女不平等，飘中的妇女却展示了和男性一样甚至胜于男性的勇气和智慧。这本小说表现了早期的女性独立意识。尤其是女主人公斯嘉丽奥哈拉,她创立了新女性形象。一方面斯嘉丽拥有着男性梦想中女性的美丽的容颜，另一方面，斯嘉丽勇敢又聪明，当陷入困境，她站起来保护她的家人和朋友。在对抗主流价值观和追求女性自身权益和地位的过程中，斯嘉丽奥哈拉拥有了早期的女性主义意识。女性主义意识是实现女性独立的重要因素，基于这一主题，本文以玛格丽特米歇尔的著名小说飘为蓝本分析其女主人公斯嘉丽奥哈拉，主要从斯嘉丽奥哈拉女性主义意识的特点入手。法国著名作家西蒙德波伏娃曾说：“女人不是生成的，而是造就的。”通过分析，本文得出了一个结论：只有在不同的关系中保持独立的人格并互相帮助，女性才能在社会上获得平等的地位。关键词：玛格丽特米歇尔，飘，斯嘉丽，女性意识觉醒，独立。ContentsAcknowledgementsIAbstractIIChineseAbstractIII1 Introduction12 Theoretical Foundations22.1 Feminism theory22.1.2 The Original of Feminism42.1.3 The Development of Feminism52.2 Major Feminism Characters in Gone with the Wind83 The Feminism Characteristics of Scarlett OHara93.1 The Growth background of Scarlett OHara93.2 Different Scarlett with Feminism93.2.1 Pursuit of love103.2.2 Strong Will in War123.2.3 Ardently Love for Land133.2.4 Requirements for female Right143.3 Relative People in the Foundation of Scarletts Feminism153.3.1 Ellen OHara153.3.2 Melanie Hamilton164 The incompleteness of Scarletts Feminism184.1 The Lack of Discourse Right184.2 The Lack of Rational Thinking185 Conclusions20Notes22Bibliography23The Character of Scarlett OHara from the Perspective of Feminism1 IntroductionAs Gone with the Wind is the plot foundation this thesis, so at the beginning, I would give an introduction to the writer of this novel. Margaret Mitchell is one of the most famous American women writers. She was born in a middle-class family in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1900. Her mother was a well educated suffragette supporting for womens vote right. Her father was a lawyer who was known for his intelligence and punctiliousness in Atlanta. When Margaret was just a young child, she enjoyed writing and listening the veterans talking about stories of the War Between the States. In 1929, she accomplished her only novel Gone with the Wind, which took name from Ernst Dawsons poetry I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind. 2 In Gone with the Wind, Scarlett, the heroine of the novel, was a self-centered girl who possess the characteristic of feminism consciousness. Taking feminine as its theoretical framework, this thesis tries to find out its feminism connotations in the narration of Gone with the Wind.There are three main research methods of this thesis: literature research method, qualitative analysis method, and experiential summary method. Through analysis the character of Scarlett OHara from the perspective of feminism, I have a full sight of female. In some way, understanding feminism can help female to recognize themselves, and enhance their confident and esteem.This thesis consists of five parts. First is introduction. It mainly introduces the writer of Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell, the main research methods, and the significance of thesis. Second is the theoretical foundation. It talks about the definition, original and development of feminism. Third is talking the feminism characteristics of Scarlett OHara from three aspects. Fourth is talking the incompleteness of Scarletts Feminism from two aspects. In the end, it is conclusion.2 Theoretical Foundations2.1 Feminism theory Feminism theory is the extension of feminism in theory and philosophy category. It seeks to understand the nature of gender inequality. It was observed among social role, experience, interests, and political participation of female in many academic fields, such as anthropology, sociology, communication studies, psychoanalysis, literature, economics, education and philosophy. Feminism theory emphasizes the analysis of gender inequality. Feminism exploration themes include discrimination, materialized, oppression, patriarchal, prejudice, art history, contemporary art and aesthetics.2.1.1 The Definition of Feminism and its CharactersDifferent people have different views on feminism. In terms of opponents, feminism was often regards as such concepts that held by those extreme, rigid, deviant woman. There are also many kinds of opinions in feminism. The representatives opinions are as follow: first of all, feminism is a theory which based on gender equality. It objected that any female suffer discrimination of any form from society, individual or economic, and requires equal rights for women. Secondly, feminism is political struggle which aim at improving the social, political and economic status of women. Thirdly, feminism is a kind of ideological, and its basic goal is to eliminate discrimination for female and overthrow the male domination of society. Fourthly, feminism refers to a social movement against oppression of women. Feminist are any people who devote themselves to those social movements.In some authoritative dictionaries of Western society, feminism mainly has the following several definitions. Firstly, feminism refers to the principle that women should have equal rights in the political, economic and social with men. This includes two meanings: on the one hand, feminists should recognize that women suffered the inequality and injustice treatment which made them feel helplessness and depress from society. The fundamental purpose of feminism is to eliminate those inequalities by taking political act. One the other hand, feminism should recognize the value and concepts of themselves and know their contribution to culture. Secondly, feminism is to explore the social life, philosophy and ethics, and devote themselves to correct the prejudice which causes oppression and contempt for women. Thirdly, Feminism advocates female should have all the citizens rights including the equality in society, politic, and economy the same as men. Fourthly, Womens liberation movement, also known as the feminist movement, is a social movement for pursuing womens equal rights, requiring the same social status as men and the right to freely choose their own career and lifestyle. 3 From the above analysis, it is obvious that the feminism definition actually consists of three aspects: politic, theory and practice. In the political aspect, the feminist thought the inequality between men and women is a question of political power, so feminism is a kind of political struggle which aimed at improving the status of women, with the ultimate goal of eliminating gender inequality and all inequalities, promote equality, cooperation and harmony between gender and interpersonal. In the theoretical aspect, feminism is a new viewing angle to understand the world, society and human, emphasizing gender equality, agreeing with womens sense of worth, doctrine or methodological principle. Its goal is not abstract knowledge, but a concrete knowledge that can be used to guide feminist political practice. In the practical aspect, feminism is a social movement for womens liberation. According to the definition of feminism, we can sum up some characteristics of feminism. Firstly, feminism is flowing and changing. Feminism is not an independent science in the traditional sense from the beginning; it is not only in existing sciences, but also beyond them. It was once known as non-academic politics with view but no theory and methods. Feminism research is always closely linked to the development of other disciplines. Secondly, feminism is historical. No matter it is ideological revolution or social movement, the goal of feminism is still to liberate women, it developed with the process of womens emancipation. Its historic reflects in different historical mission of different ages and societies. Thirdly, feminism is not only a abstract ideology, but also a specific political platform and political strategy. All kinds of feminism have its own political. Feminism is a strategy and a life principle which decide our thinking and action. Fourth, feminism is diverse. Women in different societies and circumstances have different understanding of their needs, a single feminism can not explain such difference, and no one can have the authority to define feminism. The difference of feminism is also its rich, healthy and dynamic characterization. Fifth, feminism is worldwide. It aimed to liberate women out of all forms of oppression and promote the solidarity among women in all countries. Sixth feminism is a national, it aimed at combining the various of country-specific cultural and economic conditions to consider the strategies of womens liberate.2.1.2 The Original of FeminismThe rise of feminism movement in Western society has its specific context. Then the social status of women in Europe is very low. Before the seventeenth century, women who married in the United Kingdom can not to mention what the basic rights of, unless her husband give her right voluntarily; when her husband is still alive, she and her property is just the personal pleasure of her husband entirely. In some countries, if the husband died without a testament, the property of the woman will be given to her husbands relatives, but not to her or her children. Such as the British Christian churches said: A woman should obey the will of man, and man is her master.” That is, women can not live according to the will of her, leaving the man she can not do anything or everything can not be accomplished by her. She should do what men has done, and serve a man as a master. She should also be afraid of man, belong to man and obey the man. Previous history of feminism can be traced back to a long time ago. The earliest feminists committed to the so-called woman problem, they criticized the role which limited women, but they did not necessarily think that women are weak, or man should be condemned because of it. In the view of modern philosophy and social movement, feminism usually originates from the Age of Enlightenment thinkers of the 18th century. Such as Mary Wollstonecrafts book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects is one of the few works which can be called feminism in the 18th century. In this book, Wollstonecraft fights back against those political theorists in 18th-century who attempt to deny female education. She believes that womens education levels should be commensurate with their social status. She advocates a country must have women, because women educated their children and they can become a partner of their husband rather than his wife. Wollstonecraft also advocates: women as human beings should enjoy the same fundamental rights as men, and should not be treated as an ornament or a property in marriage transactions. She believes men and women are responsible for this situation, and that women should have a lot of power more than men is a matter of course. This is not to say that there are not much earlier other writings on gender equality. For example, the mysterious philosopher Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa wrote a book The Declamation on the Nobility and Preeminence of the Female Sex in the 1529.Feminism gradually transformed into an organized social movement in the 19th century, because more and more people believe women in a male-centered society suffered unequal treatment. Feminism movement rooted in the Western progressivism, especially in the reform movement of the 19th century. Time of organized movements is from the first feminism conference which was held in Seneca Falls in 1848. 2.1.3 The Development of FeminismDepending on the different concerns of feminism theory, the development of feminism can be divided into two waves: early feminism movement and the new feminism movement. Early feminism movement emerged in the mid-19th century, which is deeply rooted in social and political life of the country. Feminism movement of this period believe that the value of women can be fully demonstrated in the public domain, it encourages women to enter the public sphere, requires freedom and equality rights of women which are mainly the three equalities: economic equality, political equality and professional equality, and fight for womens suffrage. The new feminism movement refers to the feminist movement emerged in 1960s, feminism of this generation affected by Marxism and the new leftist ideology, emphasizing the differences and uniqueness, no longer treat the relationship between men and women as a relationship between two individuals, and began to throw out a challenge for the social ideology which lead women to a disadvantage status and gender bias in language, law and philosophy. The new generation of feminists not only tries to recognize the situation of women from social politics and economic reasons, but also search the oppression of women as oppressed groups. They stressed that the purpose of the emancipation of women is not like the struggle for social equality that prompt women to survive like a man, but to develop a new, female proprietary language, law, philosophy and mythology. The core of new feminism movement is complete difference feminism - womens liberation movement. It is a radical, left-wing, socialism feminism, it rejected the idea of equality with men, and take a place of emphasizing the liberation of all oppressed people.Feminism can be roughly divided into several factions since the 1960s. First is Liberal Feminism. Liberal feminism is influenced by liberal political theory. the theory thought rationality is the common nature of human. Individual has the value beyond all things because of natural endowments and individual potential and it is equal between people. Personal freedom was made possible because the individual recognize the freedom of others and restrict their right under the premise of equality, not to harm others. Feminist considered the reason why women suffer oppression is that a series of social traditions and legal repressed womens potential. This hindered social progress. Thus, Liberal Feminism fight for the rights of women and eliminating discrimination against women in law and social habits, such as the right to vote, individual property rights, the right to education and the right to equal employment opportunities, etc.Second is Marxist feminism. Marxist feminism agrees with Engelss view of the origin of gender inequality, they thought womens oppression is accompanied by the appearance of private ownership. As privatization, wealth is concentrated in a small number of people, almost all men initially, it leads to the generation of class and women enslaved situation. This class oppression and gender oppression are manifested the capitalism and imperialism in contemporary. Oppression of women is not only caused by patriarchy, which is men prevail over women, but also the product of the capitalist system itself. If all women are liberated, capitalism must be replaced with socialism, productions must be owned by the whole people, and productive forces must be liberated. So that women got economic independence in men, liberation.Third is radical feminism. Radical feminism denied liberal feminisms view on the causes of womens oppression is the lack of political and civil rights, and opposed to the Marxist feminisms view on the causes of womens oppression is class oppression perspective. They tried to explain much social oppression with gender oppression, and thought the root cause of womens oppression is based on the existence of patriarchy which is characterized by power, domination, and hierarchy. Women want to be truly liberated, it is not enough to destroy the legal and political structure of this system, but also destroy its social and cultural structures, including the family, the community and schools. In addition to critiquing patriarchy, while Radical feminism were also trying to find the ideal gender roles. In the early 1970s, due to considering the gender system is a cause of oppression, many people advocate a neutral culture to replace the original distinction between the two poles of the sexes. In an ideal society, there should be no difference between men and women.Forth is postmodern feminism. Postmodern feminism regards ideological emancipation as the most fundamental women liberation, and opposes to turn the feminism theory into rigid dogma. They emphasize the difference in womens class, racial, cultural and ethnic and pay attention to the concept of difference and otherness. Postmodern feminism requires women in the Third World to care about the development of feminism, they advocates establishing a global network. However, the question of how to combine the differences and commonality is still the most important challenges for the postmodern feminism.Feminism, as an active force in contemporary society, promotes the social progress and human development, especially has made an indelible contribution for the global womens liberation. Meanwhile the feminism as a new spirit has integrated into the society, culture, politics, economy, and history etc., and enriched the human spirit culture.2.2 Major Feminism Characters in Gone with the WindThe degree of female individuality and self-realization is a symbol of the rise of feminism. In the traditional concept of society, men are the center of social activity, while women just a foil, women always stand behind the men. However, with the changes in society and the development of the times, womens feminism consciousnesses are slowly awakening. In Gone with the Wind, though the Southern women suffered repression, they were not ignorant vulnerable groups. They propped up the South civilization and Southern plantation economy with their love, wisdom and tenacity and proved that they were fully capable of going out of home and getting rid of the male accessory social status. Their feminism consciousness reflected in the pursuit of love and