从结构主义角度解读《屋顶丽人》的文化内涵_英语论文

A Cultural Interpretation of “A Woman on a Roof”: A Structuralism Perspective 

摘要

诺贝尔文学奖得主多丽丝•莱辛的《屋顶丽人》是一篇不朽的短篇小说，该文体现了以男权主义和女权主义冲突为典型的多重主题，表现了多重文化内涵。结构主义认为文学作品在表面上是描写某种外在现象,暗中却遵循一套共同的叙事语法,其基本运作方式是“二元对立”。

本文以结构主义为理论依据，以二元对立法为研究方法，致力于从全新的角度解读《屋顶丽人》中的文化内涵。文章首先阐述了结构主义与二元对立理论的概念，其次介绍多丽丝•莱辛的生平及《屋顶丽人》的写作背景、情节简介，最后结合小说文本，通过二元对立的研究方法,分析《屋顶丽人》中出现的三对具有代表意义的冲突：凝视的男性和被凝视的女性之间的二元对立；有闲阶级和下层劳动阶级之间的二元对立；理想和现实之间的二元对立。

本文将中西方关于《屋顶丽人》中二元对立关系的探索结合起来，有助于了解多丽丝•莱辛在这篇短篇小说中所要表达的主题，探讨其折射出的深层文化意义和多重审美内涵，从而进一步肯定小说在世界文坛的重要地位。

关键词：结构主义，二元对立法，多丽丝•莱辛，《屋顶丽人》，多重主题 

Abstract

“A Woman on a Roof” is a great short story written by the Nobel Literature Prize winner, Doris Lessing. The article reflects the conflicts between patriarchal socialist and feminist, which is one of the typical multiple themes, as well as performs  multi-cultural connotations.

This thesis takes Structuralism as the theory basis, by using the method of Binary Oppositions, it seek to reveal the multi-cultural connotations in “A Woman on a Roof”. In the first part, the thesis briefly introduces the concept of Structuralism theory and Binary Oppositions. Then, there is an introduction of Doris Lessing and her literature work. Last but not the least, by combining the context analysis and Binary Oppositions, this thesis focuses on three binary relationships: the gender opposition, the class opposition and the confrontation between ideality and the reality.

The thesis result will help to understand the themes which Doris conveyed in this short story by exploring the binary oppositions. Therefore, it will be able to provide some references for discussing the deep cultural significances and multiple aesthetic connotations of the story, further assisting to confirm the important status of the novel in world litetature.

Key words: Structuralism，Binary Oppositions Method，Doris Lessing， “A Woman on a Roof”，multiple themes 

Contents

摘要 II

Abstract III

1  Introduction 1

2  An overview of Structuralism and Binary Oppositions 2

2.1 The concept of Structuralism 2

2.2 Structuralism in literary theory and criticism 3

2.3 The concept of Binary Opposition 3

3  Background of Doris Lessing and “A Woman on a Roof” 5

3.1 Background of Doris Lessing 5

3.2 Summary of plot in “A Woman on a Roof” 6

4  The binary oppositions in “A Woman on a Roof” 7

4.1 Binary oppositions between genders 7

4.1.1 An overview of the males’ reactions 7

4.1.2 Silent rebellion of the woman 9

4.1.3 The conflict between both genders 10

4.2 Binary oppositions between classes 12

4.2.1 Description of the different classes in the story 12

4.2.2The collision between the two classes 13

4.3 Binary opposition between ideality and reality 14

4.3.1 Overview of Tom’s feeling towards the woman 14

4.3.2 Description of Tom’s emotional change 15

4.3.3 Conflict between dream and the reality 16

5  Conclusion 17

5.1 Major findings of the study 17

5.2 Limitations and suggestions for further research 17

Works cited 19