后女性主义哥特视角下《呼啸山庄》中的两性关系解读_英语论文

Gender Relations in Wuthering Heights from the Perspective of Postfeminist Gothic

摘要

英国十九世纪作家艾米莉•勃朗特（1818－1848）的小说《呼啸山庄》中充满了哥特元素，可以被看作是后女性主义哥特扎根于现实主义的土壤中的典型作品。后女性主义哥特理论突破了传统女性主义哥特理论对父权的批判，默认男女性别平等，对哥特研究和文学批评具有深刻启发意义。

《呼啸山庄》中有着复杂的两性关系，小说人物有着各自不同的体验：女性在父权社会中人格自我分裂的困境、自我牺牲的拼死抗争、最终获得独立自我；男性不再是处于主导地位，女性对男性和家庭影响很大，甚至决定了男性和家庭的命运。男性和女性不再是二元的、对立的，而是平等和相互依存的。这些变化进一步揭示了两性关系平等和谐发展的新方向。这一思想不仅对当时社会是有积极意义的，而且也为西方女权主义理论的发展奠定了基础。

本文从本杰明•巴尔邦关于后女性主义哥特理论入手，探讨《呼啸山庄》中的三种复杂的两性关系，从而进一步分析女性意识的成长和两性角色的变化。论文主体三章分别对应三种两性关系：爱情、婚姻和父女关系，这三种关系中充满矛盾。第一章通过探索凯瑟琳和希斯克列夫一生的感情纠葛，揭示女性在爱情中也能起到主导作用；第二章阐述伊莎贝拉对希斯克列夫的迷恋及后来毅然离开他，展现女性在婚姻中也有自我选择的权利；第三章则是着眼于凯蒂和两大父权代表男性之间的父女关系。林顿作为父亲，以保护凯蒂为借口而监禁她。而希斯克列夫对凯蒂虽然百加虐待，但还是将她抚养长大。凯蒂作为女儿有对父权的依赖但又出于自我意识反抗父权的控制。这其中，女性都是矛盾的主体。本文通过分析三种关系，展现后女性主义哥特的核心思想——两性自由、平等与和谐。最后，论文将不仅仅局限于《呼啸山庄》这一部作品，而是通过分析文本中复杂的两性关系，进而探索后女性主义哥特理论对现代社会中两性关系的启示：超然的性别认知，关注两性的平等和谐，相互依存。

关键词：《呼啸山庄》；艾米莉•勃朗特；本杰明•巴尔邦；后女性主义哥特理论

Abstract

Emily Brontë’s (1818-1848) Wuthering Heights can be seen as the typical postfeminist gothic works deeply rooted in the heart of realism. Postfeminist gothic breaks through traditional feminist gothic criticism of patriarchy and acquiesces in gender equality, which has enlightening significance for gothic study and literary criticism. 

There are complex gender relations in Wuthering Heights. Different characters own different experiences: some female characters end in self-splitting state, struggle against tragic fate and gain independent identity; some male characters no longer play the dominant role. Female characters have great influence in family even decide male’s fate. Male and female no longer live in duality and in conflict, replaced by equality and interdependence. It opens doors to the new directions of gender equality development. This idea not only makes positive influence at that time but also establishes foundation for western feminist theory.

This paper attempts to explore three complex gender relations in Wuthering Heights, and to analyze the development of female consciousness and the role shifts between two genders. From the perspective of postfeminist gothic, this paper is divided into three parts: the introduction, main body and conclusion. Main body consists of three chapters, corresponding to three kinds of gender relations: Love, Marriage and Father-Daughter Relationship. These relations are full of contradiction. Chapter One explores the emotional entanglements of Catherine’s and Heathcliff’s life in order to reveal the fact that female can also be the dominant role in love. Chapter Two examines Isabella’s obsession with Heathcliff and her abandonment of that marriage, which shows that female also have the right to choose in a marriage. Chapter Three focuses on the relationship between Cathy, Linton and Heathcliff. Linton imprisons Cathy, taking the excuse of protection. Although Heathcliff treats Cathy with great cruelty, he brings her up. As a daughter, Cathy relies on her father, but on the other hand, she rebels against paternal control from her own independent heart. Throughout three chapters, female is the core of all the contradictions. This paper analyzes these three relations, to present the core concepts of postfeminist gothic: gender freedom, gender equality and gender harmony. All in all, this paper will not only study Wuthering Heights, but also explore postfeminist gothic’s enlightenment to gender relations: exceptional gender-awareness, focusing on the gender equality, and to achieve interdependence. 

Key Words: Wuthering Heights; Emily Brontë; Benjamin A. Brabon; postfeminist gothic

Contents

Acknowledgements i

Abstract ii

摘要 iv

Introduction 1

Chapter One Love: Ideal Relationship and Betrayal In Reality 5

1.1 Bread and Love 5

1.2 Traditional Conventions and Self-integrity 7

Chapter Two Marriage: Self –struggle against Convention and Blind Obsession 10

2.1 Discredited Marriage 10

2.2 Fearless Escape 11

Chapter Three Father-Daughter Relationship: Dependency and Self-awareness 13

3.1 Kathy Under the Patriarchal Control 13

3.2 Gender Relations of Equality and Freedom 14

Conclusion 16

Works Cited 18