斯佳丽VS董心碧

斯佳丽VS董心碧

[Abstract]ScarletO’HaraistheheroineofGonewiththeWind,writtenbythefamousAmericanfemalewriter--MargaretMitchell.Ashernamesuggests,sheisawildandstrong-willedlady.Sheisnotonlycharmingandattractiveinherappearancebutalsoinherpersonality:sheisastrongwilled,indomitable,hardworkingandmasculineladyofthewesternpeople.However,sheisanindividualist,inotherwords,sheisaself-centeredwoman.Shenevercaresaboutthefeelingsofothers.Tothemen,sheisanindependentlady,sheneverdependsonthem;tothechildren,sheisnotagoodmother,instead,sheisSatantothem;andshehasnofemalefriends.SheusedtobetheappleofTara,sheneedstopaynoattentiontothelife,however,thewarurgeshertogrowupandbecomemature.Inaword,ScarletO’HaraisarepresentativeofthewesternersoftheSouthAmericaduringthewartime.DongXinbiistheheroineofNewBeautyintheTurbulentWorld,whichiswrittenbythefamousChinesefemalewriter,HuangBeijia.Ashernameindicates,DongXinbiisadelicateladyoftheSouthernChina.Sheisabeautiful,strongminded,clever,hardworkingwoman.However,sheisdependentonmenandcaresothers’attitudetowardsher.Tomen,sheisdependentonthemandneversaynotothem;tothefamily,sheistheangelofthefamilyandtakesgoodcareofthechildren;andshehasalotoffriends.Thewarchangesherfromanelegantladytoastrongwoman.SheisatypicalChinesewoman.

[Keywords]ScarletO’Hara;DongXinbi;comparison

[摘要]斯佳丽是美国着名女作家玛格丽特·米切尔的代表作《乱世佳人》中的女主人公。正如斯佳丽的名字所暗含的意思，她具有顽强的生命力，即使身处逆境但仍对生活充满希望。人美性格更美,斯佳丽是一位个性坚毅,人格独立，勤劳能干的具有男性特征的西方丽人.同时，斯佳丽也是一位个人主义分子。对她来说，最重要的人莫过于她自己了。对男人来说，她是一位独立的女性，从不依附他们,甚至，她比一般的男性还要坚强；而对于孩子们来说，斯佳丽是撒旦的化身.她不是一位好妈妈，对他们她没有丝毫的耐心，她从未关心过他们。即使斯佳丽后来也意识到这一点，但是她从未考虑过如何改善她与孩子们之间的关系；同时，由于斯佳丽对男人的极强占有欲和她的特例独行,她几乎没有女性朋友。总而言之,斯佳丽是一位典型的美国内战时期的西方女性。董心碧是我国着名女作家黄蓓佳《新乱世佳人》中的女主人公。有别于斯佳丽这一战争中走出来的西方女性，董心碧虽然也是成熟于战争之中,但是她却是一位传统的中国女性。她容貌秀丽,性格坚强，聪明伶俐，勤劳能干。然而，如同传统的中国女性，董心碧依附于男人而生存，而且在意他人的看法。心碧是男人心目中完美妻子的代表；对于孩子来说，心碧是世界上最好的母亲；而心碧又极会做人，与其他的女性相处和睦。总的来说，董心碧是一位典型的中国式的贤妻良母,是完美的传统中国女性的代表。

[关键词]斯佳丽;董心碧;对比

1.Introduction

ScarletO’HaraistheheroineofGonewiththeWindbyMargaretMitchell,arenownedAmericanfemalewriterintheSouth.ShewasbornonNov.8,1900inAtlantatoafamilywithancestrynearlythesameastheO’HarafamilyoftheGonewiththeWind:MargaretMitchell’sgrandmother,AnnieStephen,experiencedtheCivilWarverymuch——–ShemovedtoAtlantaduringtheCivilWarandgotmarriedthere;herfather,EugeneMuseMitchell,anAtlantaattorney,descendedfromScotch-IrishandFrenchHuguenots;MargaretMitchell’smother,MaryIsabelle,atypicalfeminist,gavelecturesaboutfeminismamongthepublicquiteoften;thefamilyincludedmanysoldiersmemberswhohadfoughtintheAmericanRevolution,IrishuprisingsandrebellionsandtheCivilWar.SothereisnodoubtthatMargaretMitchellwassofamiliarwiththebackgroundsoftheCivilWarandthatiswhyshecouldcreatesuchalifelikeandvividfigure—ScarletO’Hara.

GonewiththeWind,asthetitlesuggests,hassomethingtodowiththewinds.Anditiswellknownthattherearetwokindsofwindsintheworld:“thewindwhichblowsawayfromthewithoutandthewindsfromthewithin.Windsfromthewithout,overwhichpeoplehavelittlecontrol,mayincludeadversity,war,pestilence,famine,calamityandmisfortune.Peoplehavelittlecontroloverthesewinds.Windsfromthewithin,overwhichpeoplemayhavecontrol,canincludepassion,enmity,strife,malice,factionsandjealousies.”[1]TheheroineofGonewiththeWind,ScarletO’Hara,astrongandrebelliousrepresentativewesternwomanoftheSouthAmerica,canstandthetestof“wind”andneverbegonewiththe“wind”.

DongXinbiistheheroineofNewBeautyintheTurbulentWorldbyHuangBeijia,afamousChinesefemalewriter,whowasborninJiangsuProvince,China,in1955.Sheisgoodatobservingwomenandunearthingtheirinnerworlds.Differentfromotherfemalewriters,HuangBeijiausuallyexcavateswomen’ssubtlefeelingfromapoeticperspective.Throughthecharacters’words,theiractivitiesandtheirsurroundings,HuangBeijialeadsthereaderstosensethecharacterintheirownshoes.Atthesametime,HuangBeijiaisastrongwilledladywhoenjoysarelaxingpsychology.Herwritingstyleisnaturalandfreshwhichattractsmanyreaders’attention.

OneofthepopulartranslationofGonewiththeWindinChineseis《乱世佳人》(BeautyintheTurbulentWorld)andHuangBeijiaentitlesherworkNewBeautyintheTurbulentWorld《新乱世佳人》.Fromthetitleswecandrawahintthattheremustbesomethingincommoninthesetwoworks,andinfactitis:themainideaoftheNewBeautyintheTurbulentWorldissimilartotheGonewiththeWind.Itisalsoaboutagreatwomanofthewar.SimilartoGonewiththeWind,theheroineofNewBeautyintheTurbulentWorldDongXinbiisalsoacharminglady,andherexperienceisnearlythesameasScarletO’Hara.Sheusedtoliveahappyandsweetlife,however,thewarbreaksoutanditthrowsherintothetroubledtimes.Shehastogrowupandfightforherfamily.Afteraseriesoftorture,shefinallybecomesmature.

Despitethesimilarities,ScarletO’HaraandDongXinbiaredifferentintheirpersonalities:ScarletO’Haraisaself-centeredandmasculineladywhostandsfortheuprisingwesterners;whileDongXinbiisanobedient,gentleandyieldingladywhorepresentsthetraditionalChinesewoman.Buttheystillhavealotincommon--bothofthemarepretty,charming,hardworking,cleverandindomitable.Whatismore,theyarenotstrongatfirst,however,theseveretestsofthewarstimulatethemtobecomestrongandmaturewhichfinallyleadthemtobeexcellentladiesintheturbulenttimes.Sointhefollowingchapters,thispaperwillcomparethemfromdifferentaspects.

2.Theconnotationsofthenames

Aperson’snameoftensuggestsone’spersonality.

ScarletO’HaraistheheroineofGonewiththeWind.Sheiswildandcannotbecontrolled.Justashernamesuggests—Scarlet,thewordinEnglishmeans“brightred”,acolorwhichisoftenassociatedwithenthusiasm,wildnessandbrightness.AndthereisalsoawordinEnglish—red-blooded,whichmeans“fullofvigor;virile”ItindicatesthatScarletisfullofvitality.IfawomaniscalledScarlet,wecandropahintthatthisisanimmoralwoman.Shenevercaresaboutothersbutonlyherself,inotherwords,sheisanindividualist.

DifferentfromScarlet’swildnessandvitality,DongXinbiisfullofdocility.Hernameremindsthereadersofthephrase“小家碧玉”(beautyfromasmallfamily),whichindicatesthatXinbiisdelicateandgraceful,whileinanotheraspectitshowsherdependenceonherhusband.Besides,“碧”equalsto“绿”,whichmeansgreen.Andtheword“green”inChinesemeansvitality,orinotherwords,itstandsforthehopeofsurvival.Ifone’sheartisgreen,itmeansthatheorsheisvigorous,sohernamesuggeststhatXinbiisalwaysfullofhopeandneverloseheart.Also,theword“green”usuallyassociateswithbamboo,whichdropsahintthatXinbi’scharacterissomehowthesameasbamboo—pureandnoble.

Moreover,Xinbiisthemotheroffive“玉”(jades).ThejadeiswarmandhumidwhichdropsahintthatXinbiisgentleandmagnanimous.Eventhereisanoldsayingthat—“Ratherbeabrokenpieceofjadethanawholetile.”ItalsoindicatesthatXinbiisdauntless.

Inaword,Xinbi’snameisatypicaloneofthetraditionalChinesewomen—itindicatesthedelicate,graceful,dependent,purebutstrongessenceofChinesewomen.

3.Prettyimages

Beautyinappearance

ThereisnodoubtthatScarletO’HaraandDongXinbiarecharmingandattractive.ScarletO’Haraisdescribedas“aflowerofevil”andDongXinbi“amatchlessbeauty”.

However,theirbeautyisnotofthesamekind,ScarletO’Haraisabeautyofmixture--“Inherfaceweretoosharplyblendedthedelicatefeaturesofhermother,aCoastaristocratofFrenchdescent,andtheheavyonesofherfloridIrishfather…”Andsheisveryattractive—“butitwasanarrestingface,pointedofchin,squareofjaw.Hereyeswerepalegreenwithoutatouchofhazel,starredwithbristlyblacklashesandslightlytitledattheends”However,herbeautifulfacealsoindicatesthatsheissomehowmasculine—“Abovethem,herthickblackbrowsslantedupward,cuttingastartlingobliquelineinhermagnolialine.”

But,atthesametime,Scarletiselegant—“themodestyofherspreadingskirts,thedemurenessofhairnettedsmoothlyintoachignonandthequietnessofsmallwhitehandsfoldedinherlap.”

ItiswellacceptedthatDongXinbiisabeautyaswell.ButdifferentfromthewesternversionofScarlet,DongXinbi’sbeautyisofChineseversion--“sheisabout13or14yearsold,inotherwords,sheisjustgrowingup.However,sheisanabsolutelybeauty—agirlwithbeautifularchedeyebrows,phoenixeyes,redlips,whiteteethandwithaGusuaccent.”(当时她已十三四岁，初长成人，柳眉凤眼，唇红齿白，一口糯糯的姑苏软语，十足是人见人爱的美人坯子)

XinbiisadelicateandexquisitebeautyofSouthernChina,whichChinesepeoplepraisehighly.Fromwhatismentionedabove,wecouldimagineanenchantingandobedientbeauty.

Inaword,ScarletO’Haraisabeautyofmixture:themixtureofFranceandIrish,andthemixtureofmasculineandelegantbeauty.Sheisarepresentativeofthemasculinewesternbeauty.Thoughbeautifulandenchantingaswell,DongXinbiisatraditionalChinesebeauty.Sheisdelicateandelegant,however,sheisobedient.

Beautyinpersonality

Thebeautyinpersonalityismuchmorebeautifulthanthebeautyinappearanceandthetwoladiesprovesitduringthewar.

ScarletusedtobetheprincessofTara;shewastheappleofherparents’eyesandtheyoungmenofAtlanta’s.SowasXinbi,althoughshehadtokeepthehouse,shewasanelegantcontrollerofDong’s.AndherdemeanorismatchlessinthewholeHaiyang.However,thewarbreaksoutandtheyarethrownintoastateofbeingrestitutedandhomeless.

Facingthesituation,ScarletO’Harachangeswiththetimesthoughsheusedtobecapriciousandself-important.Sherecognizesthatshemustbepracticalandlearnsthebasiclivingabilities,suchaspickingcottonastheblackslaves,cultivatingthelandandsoon.Andshetellsherself“moneycomesfirst!”—Itistheonlythingthatcanmakeonefeelwarmandsafe.

Sheisstrong-willedbesidesadoptablewhensheisconfrontedwithhardtimes.OnthefalldayofAtlanta,thedoctorissobusythathehasnotimetohelpMelanie.Scarletturnstoherselfforhelp.ShehelpsasamidwifeanddeliversMelanie’schild;andwithoutRhett’shelponthehalfwayhome,shemanagestogobackhomebyherself;takingtheadvantageofKennedy’sillness,shemanagesthewoodfactorybyherself.Whatismore,shedoesbetterthanherhusband…Fromtheaboveinstances,wecandrawaconclusionthatScarletisnotonlystrong,butsomehowself-helpedandmasculine.

AndScarletisalsocreditable.SincethedayScarletpromisedAshleytotakegoodcareofMelanie,shetriesherbesttolookafterheralthoughMelanieisherrivalinlove.OnthefallnightofAtlanta,thoughsheiseagertobebacktoTara,shehelpsMelaniegivebirthtothebabyandbringsherbacktoTaraandtakesgoodcareofherdespiteallthedifficulties.

Xinbiisalsoanadaptablestrongwoman.Shebecomesnolongeradescentandelegantladybutapracticalwomanduringthewar:shebeginstolearnhowtosowseeds,howtomakeclothesbyherself;shecomestorealizethatthereputationisimpracticalandrentssomeofherhousesinordertomakesomemoney…

Xinbikeepspromisesaswell.SincethedayshepromisedShenChentolookafterhismother,shetriesherbesttotakegoodcareoftheoldlady—chattingwithher,cookingdeliciousfoodforher,knittingsweatersforher…inaword,shetriesherbesttoensurethattheoldladyislivingarelativelycomfortablelife.EvenshethinksofaskingtheoldladytolivewithherandtakesgoodcareofherafterShenChen’sdeath.However,thepitifuloldladygoeswithherson—shepassesawaythedayaftersheknowsthatherson’sdeath.NeverthinkingofoccupyingthemoneyShenChengaveherearlier,shespendsalltheamountofmoneyinburyinghermother.

Xinbiisclever.Whenherhouseisintrudedbyanofficial,sheevenusethepolicyof“violencetoviolence”—sheasksahigherofficialindirectlyforhelp;whenhersonKejianiskidnapped,sheasksherson-in-law—WangQianfan,whoisaPRCtosavehim;andinordertosavemoney,shegoestothesuburbstobuyfoods…Xinbiissmart,butwecanalsodrawaconclusionthatsheisweakanddependentbecauseshecannotmanagethoseaffairswellbyherselfbutalwaysturnstoothersforhelp.

Fromtheabovediscussion,itisclearthatbothofthetwobeautiesarestrong,creditableandclever;theycanchangewiththetimes.Buttherearestillsomedifferencesintheirpersonality—ScarletO’Haraisself-helpedandmasculine,andsheneverdependsonmen.WhileDongXinbiisacomparativelyweakladyofSouthernChina.Sheisdependentonmen.

4.Humanrelations

Attitudetowardsmen

Itisthesamethatthetwoladieshavethreemenduringtheirlives.ForScarlet,theyareCharles,KennedyandRhett;forXinbi,theyareJiren,ShenChenandMuzi.Buttheirattitudestowardsmenaredifferent,Scarletisaself-centeredwoman,oncesheneedsamanshewilldoitdirectlyandfinallyletthemfallintolovewithher.Sheisanindividualistwholooksforlovebyherself.However,XinbiisatraditionalChinesewoman;shealwayscaresforotherpeople’scommentsanddarenottosaveherlove,whichfinallyleadstothetragicends.

ScarletmarriesCharlesimpulsivelysimplybecauseAshleyrejectsherlove.Theself-centeredgirlcannotreceivethehumility.CapriciouslyshemarriesCharlesjustbecause“hehasalotofmoney,andhehasn’tanyparentstobothermeandhelivesinAtlanta.AndifImarriedhimrightaway,itwouldshowAshleythatIdidnotcarearapthatIwasonlyflirtingwithhim.AnditwouldjustkillHoney.Shehadnever,nevercatchanotherbeauandeverybody’slaughfittodieather,anditwouldhurtMelanie,becauseshelovesCharlessomuch,anditwouldhurtStuandBrent.”[10]Whataself-importantgirl,sheneverconsidersothers’feelings.

Whatisworse,sheisindifferentwithCharles’death.Itistruethatsheissad,butwhatsheissadaboutisnotbecauseherhusbandisdead,butbecausenowsheisawidow,shecannolongerwearthebeautifuldressesandshecannotdanceanymore,evenagreettoyoungmenisforbidden.Sheonlycaresforherself!

Scarlet’smarriagewithFrankisanexampleofherindividuality.ForScarlet,“Insuchkindofsociety,asone’saim,peoplepaymuchmoreattentiontoachieveone’sowngoal.One’sowndesireismuchmoreimportantthanthatoftheresponsibilitytothetraditionalsociety.”[11]ShedoesnotloveFrankeither,butinordertosaveTara,shesacrificesherselfandmarrieshim.BecausesheneedsthemoneytopayforthetaxesonTara,andFrankhappenstobetheonlypersonexceptforRhettwhohastheamountofmoney.Inotherwords,ifotherpeoplehavetheamountofmoney,shewillalsochoosehim.AndshehasnofeelingtowardsFrank,worsestill,sheusedtodespisehim.AndsheisindependentevenwhenshemarriesFrank.Takingtheadvantageofherhusband’sillness,sheisinchargeofthebusiness.Andshenolongerrespectsherhusband,butmanageseverythingbyherself.Shecaresnothingofwhatherhusbandtellsherandevenemploysblackslavesandprisonerstosavemoney.Shebecomesasuccessfulbusinesswomansincenowonandcaresnothingwhatotherpeoplecriticizeonher.Inotherwords,sheisjustself-centered.

Scarlet’smarriagewithRhettisanotherexampleofindividuality.Withoutcaringofothers’criticism,sheonlythinksforherself.AndsheisquiterebelliousbecausesheacceptsRhett’sproposalofmarriagejustwhenshebecomesawidow.However,hermarriagewithRhettisatragedy.Althoughshechoosesthemarriagebyherself,shedoesnotrealizethatRhettisthemanwhoshereallyloves.Worsestill,itistoolateforhertorealizeit.Beforethereorganization,shetakesadvantagesofhimverymuchwithoutconsideringRhett’sfeeling.FinallyshefindsthatRhettisthemanwhoshelovesheartily,however,itistoolate—Rhettalreadylosesheartandleavesher.ButScarletisstrongandconfidentthatthroughherpersistenttrying,Rhettwillcomebacktoherintheend.

WhileXinbi’sattitudetowardsmeniscompletelydifferentfromthatofStarlet.AccordingtoaJapanesescholar:“AwomanshouldtreatherhusbandasGod,andsheshouldservehimwiththehighestsenseofreligionandrespect.Themostimportantresponsibilityforawoman,orinotherwords,thelast-for-everresponsibilityisobedience.”[12]

XinbiisatraditionalmindedChinesewoman.SheisdependentonJirenandworshipshimastheGodofher.Sheneversaysnotoherhusband.EvensometimeJirencomplainsaboutsomethingtoher,sheneverfeelsashamedorangry.Tothecontrary,sheenjoysit.SincethedayJirensavesher,sheisdependentonhim.Tohim,“shehasnoviewsorwishes,shepreferstoagreetootherpeople’sopinions.’’[13]

Infact,Xinbi’sworshiptowardsJirencomesintoapathologicalstate—shehasbeenmarriedtoJirenformanyyearsanddoesmanythings,suchasgivingbirthtochildren,keepthehouseandsoon.SheisalikechildishatthepresenceofJiren.Whatismore,shehopesthatherhusbandcanteachhersomething.Ifitiswretchedscamp,Xinbiadmitsithappily.[14](进济仁家这么多年，为他生儿育女，操持家务，也算是个能干要强的女人了，就是在济仁脱不了孩子气，只盼着他天天把她放在嘴里教训着、点拨着才好。如果说这是“贱”的话，心碧可是心甘情愿认了这份贱)

ComparedwithScarlet’sindividuality,DongXinbi’sloveisjustfordependence,andshealwayscaressomuchaboutthetraditionalviewsthatsheishesitatetoacceptmen’slovetowardsher.SheonlymarriestoJirenandnevergetsmarriedagain.

AfterJiren’sdeathinthebeginningofthewar;shefeelssotiredandemptythatsheneedsShenChentodependon.ButasatraditionalChinesewoman,shecaressomuchofwhatotherpeoplemightcommentonherthatsheishesitatetoacceptShenChen’slove.Whenshefinallychoosestoaccepts,butitistoolatebecauseShenChenpassesaway.

BesidesDongJiren,XueMuziisthemanXinbidependsonandloves.However,becauseofXinbi’straditionalviewoflove,shealwayshesitatestoreceivehislove,andbecauseshewantstobeagoodmother,theydepartatlast.

DifferentfromScarlet’sactiveattitudestowardslove,Xinbiispassive.ThetraditionalChinesewomanalwayshesitatestoaccepttheloveandfinallymissesit.

Attitudetowardschildren

ScarletmaybeistheSatantoherchildrenbecauseshedoesnotlovethem,whatshecaresisonlyherselfandmoney.Wade,herfirstandonlyson,Scarlet“hadnotwantedhimandsheresentedhiscoming,and,nowthathewashere,itdidnotseempossiblethathewashers,apartofher.”[15]“Ella!ItannoyedScarlettorealizethatEllawasasillychildbutshewasundoubtedlywas.”[16]BonnieisherandRhett’sdaughter,however,shedoesnotlikeBonnieverymucheither.Naturally,BonnieismuchintimaterwithherfatherRhett.Inaword,Scarletneverhastheslightestnotionwithherchildren.Whatafailedmother!

AccordingtoWoolf,womanis“theangelofthefamily,sheissympathetic,charmingandselfless.Theartoftortureinthefamilyishermerit.Andshesacrificestootherpeopleeveryday.”[17]ItsuitsforXinbiproperly—thetraditionalChinesewoman,differentfromtheSataninthefamilyofScarletO’Hara,sheisadutifulwifeandlovingmother.Shedevotesallherselftoherfamily.Duetothetraditionalviewof“maritageisanundeniablebasisofmarriage”[18]ShetriesherbesttomakethemaritageforRunyuandgivesallwhatshecangiveher—sharp100loadsofmaritagealthoughtheyareinthehardtimeofwar.BesidesRunyu,shetreatsotherchildrenasthesame.Sheisopen-mindedandneverintrudesinherchildren’spersonalaffairs.

DongXinbiisatypicalexampleofsuccessfultraditionalChinesemother:shedevotesallherselftoherchildrenandherchildrenrespecther.WhileScarletisafailedmothercomparedwithDongXinbi’ssuccess.Sheisanindividualistwhoonlycaresaboutherself;andsheisamaterialistatthesametime,whocaresabouthowtomakemoney.Sheistoosharpandeasilyvexedtowinthechildren’sconfirmoraffection,andnowitistoolateforhertolookintothedeephearts,worsestill,sherefusestodosuchatoughwork.

Attitudetowardsfriends

Scarletisaladyofindividualist,shenevercareswhatothersmaycommentonher,sheonlypaysattentiontoherself.Andsheactsostentatiously.“Sheisunsuccessfulineveryfemaleroleandinherrelationswithotherwomen.”[19]EvenhersisterSuellenhatesherbecausesheseizesherfiancéFrank.MaybeMelanieisheronlywomanfriendbesideshermotherEllenandhercommonMummy.However,shedoesnotrealizeituntilMelaniepassesaway.

WhileXinbiisatraditionalChinesewoman,shebelievesthatunityisthebestpolicy.Andsheisatactfulandwisewoman,althoughsheknowsthatalotofpeoplearegreeneyedwithher,shepretendstobecompletelyinthedarkoftheirhostilityandisalwaysreadytohelpthem.Whatismore,shealwaysenjoysaharmoniousrelationshipwithherfriend.Andtheyhelpheralotinthewar.EvenhercounterpartDuyangivesherahandwhensheisintrouble.Andtheservantsofherfamilyrespectherandhelpherwheneversheisinneedofhelp.

5.Beliefs

Asanindividualist,Scarletisirreligious,sheonlybelievesherself.HerGodisaGodofwrath.WhenEllenandherfamilymembersarepreachingpiously,sheisthinkingofhowtomarrywithAshleysecretly.Andwhensheseizeshersister’shusbandandmarrieshim,sheonlythinksthat“Ireallydidn’tthinkaboutGodmuchmorethen—orhell.AndwhenIdidthink–well,IjustreckonedGodwouldunderstand.”[20]WecanevensaythatStarlet’sGodisanabsenteeGod.WhenMammycomplainsthat“ahdoanknowwhutdeLawdthinkin’‘bout,lettin’debadwomenflurrishlakdatw’enusgoodfocksishungryan’mos’barefood.”[21]Scarletonlyrepliescoldly:“TheLordstoppedthinkingaboutusyearsago.Anddon’tgotellingmeMotheristurninginhergravetohearmesayit,either.”[22]

BeingatraditionalChinesewoman,Xinbibelievesinthereligion.Beforethewartime,XinbiissobusykeepingthehousethatshejustrespectstheGuanyinwhenitisfestivals.Foranotherreason,sheknowsthatmadamXinjinalwaysrespecttheBuddhaforher.However,duetotheseriousmisfortuneinthewartime,Xinbilosesherself.Shefindsnowheretoputherspirit.Gradually,shebecomesatotalBuddhistatlastforthereligionistheplaceforhertoplaceherhopeson.

6.TheProcessesofmaturing

Beforethewar

Scarlet,theindividualistisquitewillful.Inheropinion,“alady’shighestandtheonlytaskforheristoshowherperfectcharacterofbeingawoman.”[23]Sotheonlythingforheristodressupbeautifullyandlooksforanidealhusband.Shecouldneverlongendureanyconversationofwhichsheisnotthechiefsubject,andshehopesthateverymanpaysattentiononlytoher.

ComparedwithScarlet’sindividuality,Xinbiisfullofvirtueandduty.

Beforethewartime,Xinbihasalreadybeenasagaciousandefficientwoman:althoughshehastogivebirthtochildren,keepthehouse,treatallkindsofpeople…However,sheisdependentonJiren.Sheneverhastocareabouthowtomakemoney;andwhensomethinghappens,shedoesnotneedtodealwithitbecauseJirenwilldowithitwell.Shebelievesthat“Ignoranceisawoman’svirtue.”(女子无才便是德)anddoeswhateverherhusbandtellshertodo.

Moreover,herobediencetoJirenissomehowcrazy.JustbecauseJirenlikesYiFengjiao—aprostitute,sheacceptsherandmakesanindependenthouseforher.

XinbiisjustatraditionalChinesewoman,shekeepsthevirtuethatispasseddownfromtheancestorsandneverdoubtswhetheritisrighttodoso.

thewar

Thereisanoldsayingthatlifeisconnectedwiththeworld,andeachpeoplemakechoicesthroughhisaroundenvironmentandthroughittomakesureofhim.Thepre-warperiodaresweetmemoriesforbothScarletandXinbi,however,thewarstimulatesthemtobestrong.

Scarletbecomesawidowduringthewar.Atlantaisfalling;shewantstoturnbacktoTaraforhelp.However,Melanieisgoingtogivebirth.Withoutthedoctor’shelp,shebecomesamidwifeanddeliversherchild.WithRhett’shelp,shegetsawayfromAtlantasuccessfully,butRhettalsoleavesherinthehalfwaybecauseheisgoingtotakepartinthewar.Scarletfeelssad,theonlywordshecanremindis“leaving”,andRhettisgoingtoleaveher.Butshehasnotimetofeelsad;shehastoreturntoTara.However,thesituationinTaraismuchmoreserious--MumEllendiedthedaybefore,fatherisinastateofdementia,herpitifultwosistersarehitbythetyphoid,shehastolookafterMelanieforshejustgivesbirthtoachild…Inaword,thewarthrowsherintoahomelessandstarvedstate.Scarlethastobecomestrong;shetrieseverymeanstosaveTaraandbecomesacompetentbusinesswoman.WhenaYankeesoldierintrudes,sheevenkillshimandtakesawayhistreasure.

ThelifeduringwarisnobetterforXinbi--Jirenpassesaway,hermother-in-lawisold,madamXinjinisweak,whatismore,shenevercaresaboutthedomesticaffairs,andherchildrenarestillyoung…shehasnootherchoicebuttobecomesstrongandsupportsthefamilyallbyherself.Inaddition,sheishardworking:Sheplantsvegetablesandmakeclothesforherchildreninherown.

Xinbiisdauntless.ThedeathofRunyushocksherseverely,butshecomestoherselfwithintwodays,becauseshestillhasfiveotherchildren.ShenChenisthesecondmanthatshefallsloveinto,however,heisshotbyherson-in-law—WangQianfan.Godplaysaseriousjokeonher,butshestrugglesforherself.Xinbialsokillsasoldier,becausethatJapanesesoliderisgoingtoinsultherdaughter.Shekillshimandtakesawayhismoney.

AccordingtoWoolf,“Therearetwokindsofpowerinone’sbody,themasculinepowerandthefemaleone…andtheexcellentstateiswhenthetwopowerscombineandworktogetherharmonious