A Comparative Study of Becky Sharp and Jane Eyre_英语论文

摘要

《名利场》和《简爱》都写于19世纪的英国，两部作品的女主人公分别为蓓基和简爱，她们的身上都体现出同一时期，同一历史背景下的女性特点,女性追求和女性意识的觉醒。本文从女性主义角度出发，对比分析两部作品中的两位女主人公。首先，就蓓基和简爱的相似性的对比而言，本文分析了作品中蕴含的社会和文化背景，展现了两位女主人公蓓基与简爱各自的生活经历，性格特点等方面的相似之处。其次，就蓓基和简爱的不同之处而言，本文着重对比了她们不同的人生追求以及最后的命运结局。阐述了由于蓓基和简爱性格差异经历等方面的因素造成了如此结局。与此同时，展现了萨克雷和夏洛特对女性主义所持的不同态度。揭示出男权社会下女性生活之不易及女性意识觉醒的必然性。

关键词：女性主义; 女性意识; 男权社会; 追求和命运    

Abstract

Vanity Fair and Jane Eyre were both created in 19th century in England. Two female protagonists Becky and Jane are both reflecting female characteristics, female pursuits and female awareness in the same period and historical background. This paper compares and analyzes the two heroines in the two novels from the feminist perspective. First and foremost, I analyze the social and cultural background in the works. In addition, I describe the similarities between Jane and Becky, such as their life experiences, characteristics ,etc. I also make the comparison of their different pursuits and final fates. Therefore, it reveals that women's survival is difficult in the patriarchal society, and also exposes different attitudes of Thackeray and Charlotte towards feminism. The necessity of awakening female consciousness is embodied in this paper.

Key words: feminism, female awareness, patriarchal society, pursuits and fates

Contents

1. Introduction 5

1.1 Social background 5

1.2 Life experiences of Thackeray and Charlotte 5

2. Demonstration6

2.1 Similarities between Becky and Jane6

2.1.1 Social and cultural backgrounds in the works6

2.1.2 Life experiences of Becky and Jane 6

2.1.3 Characteristics of Becky and Jane 7

2.2 Differences between Becky and Jane8

2.2.1 Different life pursuits of Becky and Jane 8

2.2.1.1 Becky’s life pursuit8

2.2.1.2 Jane’s life pursuit8

2.2.2 Different fates of Becky and Jane9

2.3 Different attitudes of Thackeray and Charlotte towards feminism9

2.3.1 Thackeray’s attitude towards feminism10

2.3.2 Charlotte’s attitude towards feminism11

3. Conclusion12

Works Cited 14

Bibliography15