维多利亚文学中女性主义的发展-以小说《南方与北方》为例_英语论文

Development of Feminism in Victorian Literature:A Case Study of the Novel North and South 

摘要

《南方与北方》是19世纪英国维多利亚时代批判现实主义工业小说的杰作, 亦是维多利亚时代女性作家伊丽莎白·凯斯盖尔对于时代、阶级与性别的思考与批判的代表作之一。本文采用文本分析与对比归纳的研究方法，以女主人公玛格丽特·黑尔的心理及行为为切入点，分析《南方与北方》中蕴含的女性主义思想, 展示伊丽莎白·凯斯盖尔的女性主义先锋地位；同时对比该作品与同时代其它作品,阐明维多利亚时代文学中体现出的新时代的女性主义发展。

本文首先介绍维多利亚时代文学以及伊丽莎白·盖斯凯尔概况、本文研究方法和目标。文献综述部分概述前人相关的研究成果。接着，以女主人公玛格丽特·黑尔为核心，探讨文中各个女性角色所代表的女性类型及女性思想解放程度，从家庭、爱情、职业三个角度探讨玛格丽特·黑尔异于普通女性的坚强独立、自尊自爱的性格与不断追求女性应有的家庭与社会地位所作出的努力，体现了她身为伊丽莎白·凯斯盖尔创造出的新时代女性应有的特征。最后，对比伊丽莎白·凯斯盖尔及主人公玛格丽特·黑尔，以及对比玛格丽特·黑尔与伊丽莎白·本内特等同时期女性作者相关作品中女主人公，探究伊丽莎白·凯斯盖尔深层写作意图，凸显其女性主义先锋地位。

基于上述分析，本文得出以下结论：玛格丽特·黑尔是伊丽莎白·凯斯盖尔基于自身经历与女性主义梦想所创造出的一位新时代女性，她对于自由恋爱、高级职业和社会地位平等等女性应有的权利的不懈追求，体现出伊丽莎白·凯斯盖尔对女性社会现状的清晰洞察及其对创造更加公平和谐的社会的呼吁。伊丽莎白·凯斯盖尔堪称英国维多利亚文学中女性主义的代表人，她的作品所体现出的女性主义，虽不完美，但石破天惊，激励了众多民众，在英国文学史上画下了浓墨重彩的一笔。

关键词：维多利亚时代；英国文学；女性主义；伊丽莎白·凯斯盖尔；南方与北方

Abstract

North and South is a masterpiece among the British realist industrial novels in 19th Victorian era, and also one of the representative work of the Victorian female writer Elizabeth Gaskell which aims at discussing criticizing the problems about times, class and gender. This thesis adopts the research method of the analysis of the text and character and the method of comparison and sets the cut-in point of heroin Margaret’s thoughts and behaviors to explore the feminism embodied in the characterization, and then compares the sharpness of the works with other works of the same period and analyze the influence on the later literature to determines Elizabeth Gaskell's avant-garde status in Feminism and further proof and expound the development of Feminism embodied in the Victorian literature.

This paper first introduces the basic situation of Victorian literature and its influencing factors, as well as the life, works and research angles and methods of Elizabeth Gaskell, and summarizes the research achievements of the predecessors in the literature review. And then mainly surrounding with the heroine Margaret Hale, to explore the different type the degree of liberation of the female roles in this novel. From family, love and occupation angles, this thesis shows Margaret Hale’s strong and independent self-esteem and her constant pursuit of the family and social status of women, that reflects the features of a new women in Victorian era. Finally, through the comparison of the author Elizabeth Gaskell and the hero Margaret Hale, as well as the comparison of Margaret Hale and other heroins like Elizabeth Bennet in the same period’s female literature, this thesis tries to explore the deep deep writing intent of Elizabeth Gaskel, and confirms the feminist pioneer status of her. 

Based on the above analysis, this paper draws the following conclusions: Margaret Hale is a new women in Victorian era created by Elizabeth Gaskell based on her own experience and feminist dream. Her nonstop pursuit for free love, senior occupation and society status equality and so on, reflecting Elizabeth Gaskell's clear insight into the current state of women in society and her appeal to creates a more equitable and harmonious society. Elizabeth Gaskell is the feminist pioneer in British Victorian literature. The feminism of her works may be not perfect, but it shocked and inspired many people, and leaves a great affection in the history of British literature.

Keywords: British Victorian literature; Feminism; Elizabeth Gaskell; North and South

Contents

摘 要 II

Acknowledgements IV

Chapter One  Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Objectives of the study 3

1.3 Organization of the thesis 4

Chapter Two  Literature Review 6

2.1 Feminism in the Victorian era 6

2.2 Previous studies at home and abroad 7

Chapter Three The Feminist Image of Margaret in North and South 10

3.1 Margaret as a Clergyman's daughter: a paragon of virtue 10

3.2 Margaret as Thornton's lover: a brave catcher 12

3.3 Margaret as a Factory owner: a new woman 14

Chapter Four Margaret and the Development of Feminism in Victorian Literature 17

4.1 Reflection of the feminist image and the attitude of the writer 17

4.2 Heroines of contemporary feminist literature 20

4.3 The development of feminism reflected in Victorian literature 20

Chapter Five  Conclusion 23

5.1 Major findings 23

5.2 Limitations 24

Works Cited 25