英语专业毕业论文：A Feminist Analysis of Jane Eyre.doc

A Feminist Analysis of Jane Eyre从女性视角解读简爱 内容摘要：简爱是英国19世纪著名的现实主义女作家夏洛蒂勃朗特的代表作，是一篇带有自传色彩的长篇小说。它成功地塑造了一位敢于为正义、平等、人格、尊严、独立而与生活困境、社会歧视及男权主义进行坚决斗争的光辉女性形象-简爱。 19 世纪的英国，女性社会地位低下，但作品中的女主人公简爱从未屈服过。她在艰苦的岁月中保持住内心的善良，形成了独立自主，自尊自爱的性格，更有对爱情与婚姻独特见解的坚持。她那纯洁高尚的灵魂带给了我们无限的美感和精神力量：面对各种艰难险阻和精神折磨，她无所畏惧，坚持自我，从而成为社会上自重、生活上自立、婚姻恋爱上自主的强者。 本论文旨在从女性视角来分析简爱这一女性形象，并阐述它的历史意义和现实意义。它对当时与当今那些争取平等和自立的女性都是一种激励和启迪。 关键字：夏洛蒂勃朗特 简爱 女性主义 A Feminist Analysis of Jane Eyre Abstract: Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855), one of the greatest realistic female writers in the 19th century in English literature, is an excellent autobiographical novel. It successfully presents a bright feminine image -Jane Eyre, a English woman struggles against difficulties in life, discrimination in society and male dominance to pursuit justice, equality, personality, dignity and independence. In the 19th century, females social position were inferior to men in Britain. However, Confronted with great hardships, the heroine of this work -Jane Eyre, never knocked under. She not only keeps inner kindness, but also cultivates independent and self-respect personality. Whats more, she insists on some particular opinions about love and marriage. Her pure and noble soul gives us aesthetic feeling and spiritual strength: encountering great difficulties, and spiritually toxic affliction, she never gives up. On the contrary, she is so strong and capable of standing up for herself and her beliefs that she becomes a strong woman, who is self-respectful in society, independent in life and autonomous in love and marriage. From the feminist viewpoint, this thesis attempts to analyze the great female image-Jane Eyre and shows its historical and modern significance. It is an encouragement to women who strive for equality and independence not only in her day but also in modern society.Key Words: Charlotte Bront；Jane Eyre；FeministContentsIntroduction.11. A belief introduction to the author and the novel.1 1.1 About the author.1 1.2 About the novel.22. Feminine Consciousness in Jane Eyre.3 2.1 The Pursuit of Equality and Independence .3 2.2 The Pursuit of Self-esteem.4 2.3 The Pursuit of True Love.63. The Influence of Jane Eyre on the Later Literature and Society.7 3.1 The interpretation of Jane Eyre from Modern Perspective.7 3.2 Female Consciousness in the Modern Society.7 3.3 Jane Eyre: A Guidebook Enjoyed by Modern Women.8Conclusion.12Reference.13Introduction “Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heart less? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, - and fill as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you.and we stood at Gods feet, equal, - as we are!” When you read this paragraph of classical dialogue, you will think of “the Cinderella -Jane” who is the leading character in the novel Jane Eyre of Charlotte Bronte.In the 19th century, females social position were inferior to men in Britain. Marriage and family life were the whole world to women. Women depended upon men physically, financially and spiritually. This essay is to explore and appreciate the spirits of feminism reflected in this novel Jane Eyre, whose author took the lead in the campaign of feminism.Jane Eyre has already come out for one and a half century. But up to now, readers still remember this work, because its heroine Jane is distinctive-She has normal appearance and unfortunate experiences, but has internal temperament and happy marriage. Jane influences many women deeply including the females today, she has become a good example of the females. The novel was very shocking for its time. Women can learn so much from this great Victorian heroine. Still, theres much to be learned from the way she chooses to live. 1. A belief introduction to the author and the novel1.1 About the author Charlotte Bront was a British novelist, the eldest out of the three famous Bront sisters whose novels have become standards of English literature. See also Emily Bront and Anne Bront. Charlotte did not have an easy life. She experienced many tragedies throughout her young years. When Charlotte was just 5 years old, her mother died of cancer. At the age of 8, she was sent to the Clergy Daughters School at Cowan Bridge in Lancashire. Her grim experiences later influenced her novel, Jane Eyre. Her sisters Maria and Elizabeth died of tuberculosis whilst at the school.Charlotte wrote her masterpiece Jane Eyre under the pseudonym Currer Bell. The reason she wrote as a man, and encouraged her sisters to do the same, was, she said, because she had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice. Charlotte could be seen as an early feminist. She wrote despite the prejudice she perceived against women in literature. When the poet Robert Southey wrote to her suggesting that literature was not a womans business she replied: I read for the same reason that I ate or drank; because it was a real craving of nature. I wrote on the same principle as I spoke-out of the impulse and feelings of the mindI am arrived at an age wherein I must do something for myself, the powers I possess must be exercised to a definite end. Charlotte rejected the convention of the beautiful heroine. While writing Jane Eyre, she told them, I will show you a heroine as plain and small as myself. Girl power!1.2 About the novel Jane Eyre is a classic romance novel by Charlotte Bronte, which was published in 1847 and is one of the most famous British novels of all time.The novel Jane Eyre is a first-person narrative of the title character. The novel goes through five distinct stages: Janes childhood at Gateshead, where she is emotionally and physically abused by her aunt and cousins; her education at Lowood School, where she acquires friends and role models but also suffers privations and oppression; her time as the governess of Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with her Byronic employer, Edward Rochester; her time with the Rivers family, during which her earnest but cold clergyman cousin, St John Rivers, proposes to her; and the finale with her reunion with, and marriage to, her beloved Rochester. Jane Eyre serves as governess to the ward of the mysterious and moody Edward Rochester. He proposes to her, but Jane discovers that he is already married to an insane woman. Eventually Jane and Rochester are reunited and, in a famous line, “Reader, I married him.” In its internalization of the action the focus is on the gradual unfolding of Janes moral and spiritual sensibility and all the events are colored by a heightened intensity that was previously the domain of poetry the novel revolutionized the art of fiction. Charlotte Bront has been called the first historian of the private consciousness and the literary ancestor of writers like Joyce and Proust. The novel contains elements of social criticism, with a strong sense of morality at its core, but is nonetheless a novel many consider ahead of its time given the individualistic character of Jane and the novels exploration of classism, sexuality, religion, and proto-feminism.2. Feminine Consciousness in Jane Eyre2.1 The Pursuit of Equality and Independence Jane lost her parents when she was young, and thanks to her uncle Jane could live a good life, but unfortunately her uncle died after a few years. Her aunt, Mrs. Sarah Reed, regarded Jane as a jinx and her three children (John, Eliza and Georgiana) neglect and abuse Jane. They dislike Janes plain looks and quiet yet passionate character. These only relatives of Jane Eyre do not show any sympathy or care to this pitiful little girl, instead they always criticize and bully her. Cold and disparaging, Aunt Reed always treats Jane Eyre as an encumbrance inferior to a maid and takes her as a doll to show her hypocritical generosity. Eventually one day, little Jane had an argument with her cousin and was beaten. After being locked in a room for a night, Jane was ill and at that time, her early feminism came out. In the face of Mrs. Reed, Jane refuses to be treated as an inferior being and finally speaks out against discriminations to her with sharp and cold exposure. When Mrs. Reed reproaches Jane for telling a lie out of all reason, Jane defends herself perversely: “Im not deceitful. If I were, I should say I loved you, but I declare, I dont love you. I dislike you the worst of anybody in the world except John Reed, and this book about the liar, you may give to your girl, Georgiana, for it is she who tells lies, and not I” (Bronte, 2002, p.63). In other peoples opinion, Jane should be great thankful to her aunt rather than being rude. When Jane is about to leave Gateshead to the charity school, Mrs. Reed thinks she can make Jane frightened by her status and decides to give a hypocritical and sanctimonious talk to guide Jane to express gratitude in front of Mr. Lloyd, the apothecary. But Jane refuses to be this rich ladys doll, being treated as unemotional and shameless. She retorts back straightly and powerfully: “How dare I, Mrs. Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I had no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness, but I cant live so, and you have no pity. I shall remember how you push me back-roughly and violently pushed me back into the red room, and locked me up there-to my dying day. Though I was in pain, though I cried out, have mercy! Have mercy, Aunt Reed!” (Bronte, 2002, p.64) . Janes rebellion against Mrs. Reed and John represents her feminist consciousness in getting esteem from other people as a decent and respectable person. Then little Jane was sent to Lowood boarding school where she learned a lot and became much stronger and independence. During Jane Eyres staying in the orphanage of Lowood, which is a benevolent institution in name, but a hell in fact, her understanding of esteem becomes deeper. She is aware of a fact that, even in the face of powerful and authoritative people like the chief inspector of this charity school, Brocklehurst, as long as her esteem and dignity hurt ruthlessly, she will never submit but rebel against it decidedly. 2.2 The Pursuit of Self-esteem The whole time spending in Thornfield is the most splendid part of the whole book. Meeting with Rochester and fell in love with him reflected the feminism in Jane and her new thoughts. Jane loves Rochester with all her heart and Rochesters status and wealth make him so high above for Jane to approach, yet she never feels herself inferior to Rochester though she is a humble family teacher. She believes they are fair and should respect each other. In fact, it is her uprightness, loftiness and sincerity that touch Rochester. Rochester feels from the bottom of his heart that Jane is the spiritual partner he always longs for. When the heroine is moved by his whole-heartedness, they fall in love deeply. But at the time of their wedding, she finds the fact that Rochester has had a legal wife. Jane feels heartbreaking on this news, and it makes her trapped in a dilemma whether to stay or to leave. She says to Rochester: “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God, sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by men when I was sane, and not mad as I am now, laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation, they are for such moments as this when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigor, stringent are they, inviolate they shall be.” (Bronte, 2002, p.343). Although she had a deep affection for Rochester, she could not stand any compromise in her marriage. She is the whole one and cannot be laughed or argued by others in this aspect. She wouldnt give up her independence and self-respect. So she chose to leave her beloved one and wanted to make a new life. As the end is known to all, Jane returns to Ferndean Manor and marries Rochester. Mr. Rochester then loses sight of both eyes and disabled. But in this circumstance, Jane Eyre comes back to Mr. Rochester caring for nothing but this man. She says: “I find you lonely, I will be your companion, to read to you, to walk with you, to sit with you, to wait on you, to be eyes and hands to you. Cease to look so melancholy, my dear master; you shall not be left desolate, so long as I live” (Bronte, 2002, p.310). Jane Eyre does not think that she is making a sacrifice. She says: “I love the people I love is that to make a sacrifice? If so, then certainly I delight in sacrifice” (Bronte, 2002, p.451). In most peoples eyes, nobody would like to marry a man who loses his sight and most of his wealth. But as to Jane, she is different. In her mind, pure love is the meeting of hearts and minds of two people. Jane Eyre is unique in Victorian period. As a feminist woman, she represents the insurgent women eager for esteem. Without esteem from other people, women like Jane can not get the real emancipation. 2.3 The Pursuit of True Love In all Jane Eyres life, the pursuit of true love is an important representation of her struggle for self-realization. Love in Jane Eyres understanding is pure, divine and it cannot be measured by status, power or property and so on. Having experienced a helpless childhood and a miserable adolescence, she expects more than a consolable true love. She suffers a lot in her pursuit of true love. Meanwhile, she obtains it through her long and hard pursuit. During this period, Jane covered her name and wanted to make a new living. Being a teacher in a small village, she made friends with John and his sisters. Though John is a handsome guy and he proposed to Jane, she cannot accept him, this is the reflection of her iron determination in pursuing true love. In a word, she does not want an affectionless love. A decent and handsome man as John is, Jane Eyre cannot accept him because his love would be “one of duty, not of passion” (Terry, 1987, p.29). She knows clearly that humiliated marriage is not true love. He makes an offer of marriage to Jane only because he thinks that Jane Eyre is a good choice for a missionarys wife. He finds Jane Eyre docile, firm and tenacious. Because he just needs this kind of assistant. Jane says if she joins St. John, she is abandoning half herself and if she goes to India, she is going to premature death. Jane Eyre insists that true love should be based on equality, mutual understanding and respect. So she refuses Johns proposal. Jane is in great unconformity with the social environment at that time. She dares to fight against the conventional marriage ideas, which well reflects all feminists voice and wish for a true love. Maybe Janes choices are considered something shocking, but it really gives a blow to the Victorian society. 3. The Influence of Jane Eyre on the Later Literature and Society 3.1 The Interpretation of Jane Eyre from Modern PerspectiveAs a great book, Jane Eyre not only awakens its early readers of the Victorian Age, but also stimulates and encourages modern womens movement. So many readers who read Jane Eyre must have a deep impression on Jane Eyres unyielding and rebellious personality and her strong requirements she tried her best to fight for the equality of men and women. Max thought Charlotte was one excellent novelist in Britain and said, “she makes use of their real and moving description to expose more political and social truths that all politicians, commentators and novelists who can expose.” This is a pioneering work in history of British literature. She was a typical representative who suffered from oppressions, insults and damage in Britain at that time. Consequently, Jane Eyre is worthy of advantaged significance in modern society. The revolting girls spirits has not been wiped out in long-term history.3.2 Female Consciousness in the Modern Society Peking University scholars Fu Xin and Wang Sufang claimed that “the wakening and improvement of female consciousness manifest in four main aspects:Women realize themselves as the subjects in the society, this realization is one of the universal attributes of human beings, according to human beingsoverall necessities to establish their lives spontaneously;they realize womens special qualities and portray a real female quality in harmony with their physiology and psychology; they understand and play a variety of roles in balance;they regards man properly and can work with man in harmony.”(LiLi 2004) I think the standards of wakening should include the sex consciousness, which requires women to be self-respective and self-confident but not self-abased and self-flabby; they can take a correct judgment on the two sexes, inferiority or woman supremacists; the female groups consciousnessawakening begin with self-respect, self-confidence,