Abstract

Kate Chopin is a famous American feminist writer in the late 19th century America. Her works have many features that are worth discovering. She successfully created many female images that desire for freedom, independence and self-worth, and strive to remain true to themselves. But meanwhile, Contradiction exists between the traditional mother-women and the “new woman” who seek after freedom and self-worth.
This thesis stresses Chopin’s two representative short stories: The Story of an Hour and Regret. Many critics considered that Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and “Regret” are feminism works. But this thesis went in the opposite direction. It explores the dramatic irony in the story, not only from the title, the language, but also from the plot, the author’s diary to reveal that bitter irony. Also, Chopin’s attitude towards independent freedom is contradictory.

Key Words:  Irony   Pursuit of freedom   Marriage   Contradictory attitude

摘要

凯特·肖邦是十九世纪末美国著名的女性主义创作先驱。她的作品有许多待人发掘的特点，她笔下的女主角要求个人自由、渴望实现自身价值、忠实于自我。但同时她们又在传统的以家庭为中心的贤妻良母角色和追求自由实现自我的新女性角色之间矛盾着，徘徊着。
本文重点分析凯特·肖邦的两部具有代表性的短篇小说：《一小时的故事》、和《懊悔》。许多学者和评论家认为《一小时的故事》和《懊悔》等短篇小说为女性主义作品，但本文另辟蹊径，不仅从文章标题，语言的应用，还从具体的情节以及作者自身说撰写的日记探索了故事中表现的戏剧性的反讽。以及女主人公面对女性意识的觉醒所表现出来的矛盾心理。

关键词：  反讽  追求自由  婚姻家庭  矛盾心理