中西文化视域下女性意识对比研究——以《简爱》与《半生缘》为例

1、ContentsChinese Abstract. 2English Abstract31. Introduction41.1 A Brief Introduction to Jane Eyre41.2 A Brief Introduction to Half a Lifelong Romance42. A Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Western Female Consciousness in Jane Eyre and Half a Lifelong Romance52.1 Similarities Between Chinese and We

2、stern Female Consciousness52.1.1 Female Independent Personality and Rebellious Spirit52.1.2 The Pursuit of Equality and Freedom of Love72.2 Differences Between Chinese and Western Female Consciousness82.2.1 Western Women: Fight for Happiness92.2.2 Chinese Women: Conflict Between Bravery and Cowardic

3、e93. The Reasons for Different Degree of Female Consciousness Awakening Manifested in Jane Eyre and Half a Lifelong Romance103.1 Different Historical Background103.2 Different Chinese and Western Traditional Culture103.3 Different Resistance Consciousness of the Hostess114. Conclusion12References.14

4、中西文化视域下女性意识对比研究以简爱与半生缘为例摘 要女性意识的探索自古以来便是各国人民研究的话题。简爱与半生缘是世界文学作品中彰显女性个性与魅力的佼佼者。作为女性意识觉醒的代表人物，简爱与顾曼桢都表现出了勇于追求平等与爱情的反抗精神，然而由于中西方文化背景的差异，她们所展现出的女性意识有着不同程度的觉醒，具有各自不同的特点。本论文针对中西方女性所处社会文化背景不同，通过简爱与半生缘的对比研究，对中西方女性意识的异同进行探究。论文分为三个章节:第一章简要介绍简爱和半生缘的作者及其创作背景等。第二章通过具体事例分析简爱与顾曼桢身上女性意识的异同。第三章分析造成人物命运不同的原因，对中西方女性自主

5、意识进行深入比较。结论部分对全文进行总结，看到了不同文化背景下中西方女性意识觉醒的差距。关键词：女性意识；觉醒；中西文化差异mA Comparative Study of Female Consciousness Under the Perspective of Chinese and Western CultureTaking Jane Eyre and Half a Lifelong Romance as ExamplesAbstractThe exploration of womans consciousness has been a topic of research among th

6、e peoples of all countries since ancient times. Jane Eyre and Half a Lifelong Romance are the masterpieces in the worlds literary works that highlight the character and charm of women. As the representative figures of female consciousness awakening, Jane Eyre and Gu Manzhen both showed the rebelliou

7、s spirit of courage in pursuing love and equality. However, due to the differences in Chinese and western cultural backgrounds, the female consciousness they exhibited has different levels of awakening and different characteristics.Based on the research of the different social and cultural backgroun

8、ds of Chinese and western women, this paper explores the similarities and differences between Chinese and western female consciousness through the comparative study of Jane Eyre and Half a lifelong Romance. The paper is divided into three chapters: the first chapter briefly introduces the author of

9、Jane Eyre and Half a lifelong Romance and their creation background. The second chapter analyzes the similarities and differences of womans consciousness of Jane and Gu Manzhen by specific examples. The third chapter analyzes the causes of the different fate of the characters, and makes a comparison

10、 between Chinese and western female consciousness. The conclusion part summarizes the full text and finds the gap between Chinese and western womans consciousness awakening under different cultural backgrounds.Key words: Female Consciousness; Awakening; Chinese and Western Cultural Differences 1. In

11、troduction1.1 A Brief Introduction to Jane EyreJane Eyre was written by Charlotte Bronte, a British female writer, in the middle of the 19th century. It was like a blockbuster with a strong feminist color which had been thrown into the Victorian age of male supremacy. As Pat Macpherson points out in

12、 the book Reflecting on Jane Eyre, “Jane Eyre is marked by strong romantic elements and the role of nature is especially important”(Pat, 1983: 297). During that period from 1830s to 1850s, Britain has already became the worlds largest industrial country, and the labor movements were forging ahead in

13、 the Northern Industry Zone. Then England practiced the reform to protect womans rights. For instance, pass the bill that the females worked ten hours at most. However, the status of women have not changed, and they still remained in a dominated position. During the era of the reign by British Monar

14、ch Queen Victoria, women did not have suffrage rights, the right to sue, or the right to own property. Discrimination was rampant surrounding the idealistic impression that aristocratic women should be “pure” and “clean.” In England at that time, it was hard for women to get a equal place. Charlotte

15、 Bronte (18161855), an English novelist, was born in that period, the eldest of the three Bronte sisters who lived in Thornton, a remote mountain town in Haworth, Yorkshire, in the north of England. Her novels has become enduring classics of English literature, but in 19th century, she had to publis

16、h the works under a male pseudonym. Additionally, Charlotte Bronte grew up in a poor family. Her mother died of lung cancer when children were young. As they lacked money and mothers love, the childrens childhood was miserable and unpleasant. As Gao Haiyan (2013)said in his article, “Because of the

17、miserable life, Bronte sisters had spent a childhood in charity school. These experiences offered them the available materials for the prospective creation.” To some extent, many plots and characters in Jane Eyre are the epitome of Charlottes life experience. 1.2 A Brief Introduction to Half a Lifel

18、ong RomanceHalf a Lifelong Romance is the first and the longest novel of Eileen Chang, which was originally called Eighteen Spring. Later, during her tour to the United States, she modified the work and renamed it Half a Lifelong Romance. Written in the middle of the 20th century, the creation backg

19、round of the work was in old-day Shanghai. At that time, China was dominated by colonial culture, feudal culture and bureaucrat capitalist culture, therefore, peoples thoughts were generally enslaved and suppressed by decadent cultures, while the advanced ideology and culture were imprisoned. People

20、 often believed in Confucian ethics, and they considered that women must follow the three obediences and the four virtues.(three obediences: obedience to ones father before marriage; to ones husband after marriage; and to ones son after ones husbands death. four virtues: morality, proper speech, mod

21、est manner, and diligent work for a woman.) Hence, under the influence of old-fashioned ideas, womans social position in the society was quite low. Its in this context that Eileen Chang (19201995) wrote this famous book. Most of the reasons for writing this book are attributed to her own background

22、and experience. She was born in a famous family, and she learned painting and writing at a young age, fully showing her talent. Nevertheless her life was also full of ups and downs. When she was ten years old, her parents divorced. She then stayed with her father who treated her badly, often beating

23、 and scolding her. At the age of 17, when she fled to her mother, there were no improvements in her life. Until later, she supported herself on her own little payment from writing. Affected by her mother who had studied abroad, she received modern education and became a new era woman. It can be said

24、 that Half a Lifelong Romance is the artistic crystallization and aesthetic reflection of Eileen Changs own life experience and social life perception. In a sense, the protagonist Gu Manzhen is her self-portrait.2. A Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Western Female Consciousness in Jane Eyre and H

25、alf a Lifelong Romance2.1 Similarities Between Chinese and Western Female ConsciousnessNo matter in China or in the west, there are many similarities in marriage, love and various systems in different regions and ages. In the traditional consciousness, the status of men is superior to that of women,

26、 and women are affiliated with men. In old China, mans advantages in economy, gender and rights almost determine womans low status. The arrogant idea that men are superior to women makes women bow to the fate of serving their parents-in-laws, doing housework and being beaten and scolded at the same

27、time. In west, in the same male-dominated society, women are still under the rule of unequal gender system, and the economic source after marriage only depends on the little dowry at the time of marriage. The duties of the average women were to raise children and maintain the house, and the upper-cl

28、ass professional women were also faced with discrimination in their employment. It is under this kind of oppression that Chinese and western women have gone through constant liberation and struggle. More and more people came to realize that only by achieving the dual emancipation of economy and ideo

29、logy can they completely dispel the oppression of men, and obtain the real freedom, and achieve the real equality of the social status between men and women.2.1.1 Female Independent Personality and Rebellious Spirit The most direct expression of womans consciousness is to refuse and resist the tradi

30、tional definition of women in the male-dominated society, and to question and subvert the male power (张申平, 2011).Under the long-term oppression, both Chinese and western women understand that women should know how to preserve own dignity and have an independent personality, besides, they were soberl

31、y aware that they should possess rebellious spirit and realize self-worth and self-esteem from both mentally and physically. Jane Eyre and Half a Lifelong Romance are representative works of this kind of female consciousness. And the heroines of these two works show the spirit of resisting male powe

32、r and oppression in feudal society. Jane Eyre is a steadfast, enthusiastic and passionate woman. Yearning for freedom and equality, she had a strong spirit of resistance since she was a child. This spirit of resistance ran through the novel and affected her whole life. Jane Eyres life experience cou

33、ld be divided into three periods. First, her life at her aunts house; When she was still young, her parents died of illness. Jane Eyre was sent to the Gateshead Manor where her uncle lived. A few years later, she lived a poor life when her uncle died. Her status in Mrs. Reeds family was inferior to

34、that of the maid. Moreover, she was abused and bullied by her aunt, Mrs. Reed and cousin (John, Eliza, Georgiana). Later, she couldnt stand up with that, and her fear and patience had been taxed to the limit. She fought with her elder male cousin, and rebelled against Mrs. Reed face to face. Second,

35、 her life at Lowood boarding school; If She had a preliminary understanding of social injustice at her aunts house, then at Lowood school she had a deeper understanding of the hypocrisy of human nature. The headmaster of the school is a cold hypocrite. He hurt the orphans both mentally and physicall

36、y. Jane and other kids suffered from pain and torture there, and her best friend Helen even died of illness. So she decided to leave the bleak and horrible place and advertised for a job. Third, her life at Thornfield Manor. Tired of the eight-year boring and gloomy life, Jane Eyre came to Thornfiel

37、d Manor as a tutor and she soon fell in love with the male host Rochester. Rochesters status and wealth make him so unapproachable above Jane, yet in her mind she never felt inferior to him and believed everyone has the right to love. When they were about to get married, Rochesters wife Bertha appea

38、red. As soon as she knew that she was cheated, she decided to leave the house and live a new life by herself. Although life is full of tribulations and hardships, she didnt give up, and she dared to fight against the fate, dared to burst out against greater power. At last, she overcame poverty, suff

39、ering, customs and other obstacles, and got her own happiness. As Jung (2005) said, “Character determines fate.” In Half a Lifelong Romance, Manzhen was born in a poor family at the bottom of Shanghai in 1930s. When Manzhen was at the age of 14, her father died. Her mother, Mrs. Gu, was a typical tr

40、aditional woman, regarding her husband as the sole focus of her life. When Mr. Gu died, her mother was unable to carry the burden of “home” independently, which landed her family in deep trouble. Her sister therefore chose to give up her lover and to become a dancer to support their family. When the

41、 world and even her mother thought that her elder sister was a shame for the family. Gu Manzhen replied, “in any case, once you go down that path, its a downhill slope, unless you are good at the game. My sistershes not that type. Shes a person with a loyal heart, really.” (张爱玲, 2012: 31). Although

42、she sympathized with her sisters sacrifice for the family, she preferred to make a living through her own efforts, rather than selling her body to resolve their household problems, and she believed that she could be financially independent. From her mother and elder sister, Manzhen saw the inborn in

43、adequacy of the traditional female in their spirit and life, thus she was eager to find out a new way to overcome the shortcomings of women and show the quality of womans independence. When she attended school, she studied under a work-study programme. After graduating from University, she chose to

44、go out to make money. After work, she also found other part-time jobs, working as a typist and tutor. She hoped to make a living through her hard works rather than relying on men. She believed that she could achieve economic independence and survive independently under social discrimination. Under t

45、he dual enslavement of male power and money, Manzhen always kept the character of self-reliance, self-respect and self-improvement (崔晶菁, 2015).In short, at the first glance, Jane Eyre and Gu Manzhen seemed weak and fragile, but they were actually strong and resolute in their minds. In their struggle

46、 and confrontation against their families and the society, they strove to change their fate. We can see their inborn bravery and strength, and we can feel their inner dissatisfaction with the reality and their sense of resistance. Appearing as a new female image that seeks independence, Jane and Man

47、zhen respectively represent parts of the western and Chinese women of their times. They have received certain education, have been influenced by the new culture, and are full of lively ideas of the times. Their untimely and unworldly tenacity and perseverance are the symbol of the awakening of Chine

48、se and western female consciousness in the old times. 2.1.2 The Pursuit of Equality and Freedom of Love According to a scholar Zhu Yiye (2016), the love of the protagonist Jane Eyre is brilliant and shining, which is widely recognized as the soul of the novel. Jane Eyre is the daughter of a poor cle

49、rgyman with a humble and low position. Without a pretty face and a nice figure, she was considered as a common girl. However, Jane Eyre, such a poor and ordinary woman, fell in love with Rochester, who was the owner of Thornfield house, handsome and extraordinary, and 20 years older than her. She ca

50、red for nothing, not the wealth and status, not the age, but this man, the one she loved. She bravely showed her love to the host and expressed that she had a hunger for spiritual resonance of love rather than material enjoyment of love. When Rochester wanted to give her jewels and promised to marry

51、 her like the daughter of an aristocrat. She said, “Oh, sir!Dont talk about jewelry! I dont want to hear about those things (Bronte, 1996: 153). In fact, it was her uprightness, loftiness and sincerity that touched Rochester. Rochester felt from the bottom of his heart that Jane was the spiritual pa

52、rtner he always longed for. In her course of seeking love, she always kept her personality independent and upheld the principle of mutual respect, freedom and equality in love. “What Jane Eyre pursues is a love that breaks through the social class restriction, and what she wants is a love that is eq

53、ual in spirit and independent in personality” (章莉, 2017(02): 65).Like Jane Eyre, Gu Manzhen, was born in a humble background, but she was a brave and confident girl. In the face of her lover with a diverse identity, Gu anzhen is very persistent. She tried to break through all the obstacles and never

54、 gave up a glimmer of hope when she was looked down upon by others. She pursued a kind of love which is single-minded and specific, furthermore, she would like to marry a person whose love for her was true, consistent and justifiable rather than being forced to marry a people by the old idea that pe

55、ople should marry families of equal social rank. Therefore, when she fell in love with Shen Shijun, she was not self-abased because of her family background, nor did she feel inferior when facing Shijuns prominent family background. Besides, she even asked him to give up inheriting the family proper

56、ty and make a career through his own struggle. Unlike traditional women, such as Manlu, whose ideology was decadent, Manzhen could not accept the existence of concubine at all. Even later, Manzhen was framed by her sister and Zhu Hongcai and lose her chastity, she didnt give up struggling. When she

57、was bullied, humiliated, and imprisoned for almost one year by her relatives, Manzhen did not abandon herself because she had a belief that Shijun was still waiting for her return, and she also had a aspiration for her perfect love and bright future. Although Jane Eyre and Gu Manzhen pursued their l

58、ove and marriage in different ways and in different social backgrounds, they both had delicate emotions and looked forward to the happiness of love. They were brave enough to express their longing for the happy days. In addition, they came to have the consciousness that they must gain equal status in family and society by constantly changing and improving themselves.2.2 Differences Between Chinese and Western Female ConsciousnessViewed from all kinds of female literary works far and wide, there are also plenty of differences between Chinese and western fe