中西文化视域下女性意识对比研究-以《简爱》与《半生缘》为例

ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\uChineseAbstract ...2EnglishAbstract 31.Introduction 41.1ABriefIntroductiontoJaneEyre 41.2ABriefIntroductiontoHalfaLifelongRomance 42.AComparativeAnalysisofChineseandWesternFemaleConsciousnessinJaneEyreandHalfaLifelongRomance 52.1SimilaritiesBetweenChineseandWesternFemaleConsciousness 52.1.1FemaleIndependentPersonalityandRebelliousSpirit 52.1.2ThePursuitofEqualityandFreedomofLove 72.2DifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternFemaleConsciousness 82.2.1WesternWomen:FightforHappiness 92.2.2ChineseWomen:ConflictBetweenBraveryandCowardice 93.TheReasonsforDifferentDegreeofFemaleConsciousnessAwakeningManifestedinJaneEyreandHalfaLifelongRomance 103.1DifferentHistoricalBackground 103.2DifferentChineseandWesternTraditionalCulture 103.3DifferentResistanceConsciousnessoftheHostess 114.Conclusion 12References14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AComparativeStudyofFemaleConsciousnessUnderthePerspectiveofChineseandWesternCulture——TakingJaneEyreandHalfaLifelongRomanceasExamplesAbstractTheexplorationofwoman'sconsciousnesshasbeenatopicofresearchamongthepeoplesofallcountriessinceancienttimes.JaneEyreandHalfaLifelongRomancearethemasterpiecesintheworld'sliteraryworksthathighlightthecharacterandcharmofwomen.Astherepresentativefiguresoffemaleconsciousnessawakening,JaneEyreandGuManzhenbothshowedtherebelliousspiritofcourageinpursuingloveandequality.However,duetothedifferencesinChineseandwesternculturalbackgrounds,thefemaleconsciousnesstheyexhibitedhasdifferentlevelsofawakeninganddifferentcharacteristics.BasedontheresearchofthedifferentsocialandculturalbackgroundsofChineseandwesternwomen,thispaperexploresthesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternfemaleconsciousnessthroughthecomparativestudyofJaneEyreandHalfalifelongRomance.Thepaperisdividedintothreechapters:thefirstchapterbrieflyintroducestheauthorofJaneEyreandHalfalifelongRomanceandtheircreationbackground.Thesecondchapteranalyzesthesimilaritiesanddifferencesofwoman'sconsciousnessofJaneandGuManzhenbyspecificexamples.Thethirdchapteranalyzesthecausesofthedifferentfateofthecharacters,andmakesacomparisonbetweenChineseandwesternfemaleconsciousness.TheconclusionpartsummarizesthefulltextandfindsthegapbetweenChineseandwesternwoman'sconsciousnessawakeningunderdifferentculturalbackgrounds.Keywords:FemaleConsciousness;Awakening;ChineseandWesternCulturalDifferencesIntroduction1.1ABriefIntroductiontoJaneEyreJaneEyrewaswrittenbyCharlotteBronte,aBritishfemalewriter,inthemiddleofthe19thcentury.ItwaslikeablockbusterwithastrongfeministcolorwhichhadbeenthrownintotheVictorianageofmalesupremacy.AsPatMacphersonpointsoutinthebookReflectingonJaneEyre,“JaneEyreismarkedbystrongromanticelementsandtheroleofnatureisespeciallyimportant”(Pat,1983:297).Duringthatperiodfrom1830sto1850s,Britainhasalreadybecametheworld'slargestindustrialcountry,andthelabormovementswereforgingaheadintheNorthernIndustryZone.ThenEnglandpracticedthereformtoprotectwoman’srights.Forinstance,passthebillthatthefemalesworkedtenhoursatmost.However,thestatusofwomenhavenotchanged,andtheystillremainedinadominatedposition.DuringtheeraofthereignbyBritishMonarchQueenVictoria,womendidnothavesuffragerights,therighttosue,ortherighttoownproperty.Discriminationwasrampantsurroundingtheidealisticimpressionthataristocraticwomenshouldbe“pure”and“clean.”InEnglandatthattime,itwashardforwomentogetaequalplace.CharlotteBronte(1816—1855),anEnglishnovelist,wasborninthatperiod,theeldestofthethreeBrontesisterswholivedinThornton,aremotemountaintowninHaworth,Yorkshire,inthenorthofEngland.HernovelshasbecomeenduringclassicsofEnglishliterature,butin19thcentury,shehadtopublishtheworksunderamalepseudonym.Additionally,CharlotteBrontegrewupinapoorfamily.Hermotherdiedoflungcancerwhenchildrenwereyoung.Astheylackedmoneyandmother’slove,thechildren'schildhoodwasmiserableandunpleasant.AsGaoHaiyan(2013)saidinhisarticle,“Becauseofthemiserablelife,Brontesistershadspentachildhoodincharityschool.Theseexperiencesofferedthemtheavailablematerialsfortheprospectivecreation.”Tosomeextent,manyplotsandcharactersinJaneEyrearetheepitomeofCharlotte'slifeexperience.1.2ABriefIntroductiontoHalfaLifelongRomanceHalfaLifelongRomanceisthefirstandthelongestnovelofEileenChang,whichwasoriginallycalledEighteenSpring.Later,duringhertourtotheUnitedStates,shemodifiedtheworkandrenameditHalfaLifelongRomance.Writteninthemiddleofthe20thcentury,thecreationbackgroundoftheworkwasinold-dayShanghai.Atthattime,Chinawasdominatedbycolonialculture,feudalcultureandbureaucratcapitalistculture,therefore,people'sthoughtsweregenerallyenslavedandsuppressedbydecadentcultures,whiletheadvancedideologyandculturewereimprisoned.PeopleoftenbelievedinConfucianethics,andtheyconsideredthatwomenmustfollowthethreeobediencesandthefourvirtues.(threeobediences:obediencetoone’sfatherbeforemarriage;toone’shusbandaftermarriage;andtoone’ssonafterone’shusband’sdeath.fourvirtues:morality,properspeech,modestmanner,anddiligentworkforawoman.)Hence,undertheinfluenceofold-fashionedideas,woman’ssocialpositioninthesocietywasquitelow.It'sinthiscontextthatEileenChang(1920—1995)wrotethisfamousbook.Mostofthereasonsforwritingthisbookareattributedtoherownbackgroundandexperience.Shewasborninafamousfamily,andshelearnedpaintingandwritingatayoungage,fullyshowinghertalent.Neverthelessherlifewasalsofullofupsanddowns.Whenshewastenyearsold,herparentsdivorced.Shethenstayedwithherfatherwhotreatedherbadly,oftenbeatingandscoldingher.Attheageof17,whenshefledtohermother,therewerenoimprovementsinherlife.Untillater,shesupportedherselfonherownlittlepaymentfromwriting.Affectedbyhermotherwhohadstudiedabroad,shereceivedmoderneducationandbecameanewerawoman.ItcanbesaidthatHalfaLifelongRomanceistheartisticcrystallizationandaestheticreflectionofEileenChang'sownlifeexperienceandsociallifeperception.Inasense,theprotagonistGuManzhenisherself-portrait.AComparativeAnalysisofChineseandWesternFemaleConsciousnessinJaneEyreandHalfaLifelongRomance2.1SimilaritiesBetweenChineseandWesternFemaleConsciousnessNomatterinChinaorinthewest,therearemanysimilaritiesinmarriage,loveandvarioussystemsindifferentregionsandages.Inthetraditionalconsciousness,thestatusofmenissuperiortothatofwomen,andwomenareaffiliatedwithmen.InoldChina,man'sadvantagesineconomy,genderandrightsalmostdeterminewoman'slowstatus.Thearrogantideathatmenaresuperiortowomenmakeswomenbowtothefateofservingtheirparents-in-laws,doinghouseworkandbeingbeatenandscoldedatthesametime.Inwest,inthesamemale-dominatedsociety,womenarestillundertheruleofunequalgendersystem,andtheeconomicsourceaftermarriageonlydependsonthelittledowryatthetimeofmarriage.Thedutiesoftheaveragewomenweretoraisechildrenandmaintainthehouse,andtheupper-classprofessionalwomenwerealsofacedwithdiscriminationintheiremployment.ItisunderthiskindofoppressionthatChineseandwesternwomenhavegonethroughconstantliberationandstruggle.Moreandmorepeoplecametorealizethatonlybyachievingthedualemancipationofeconomyandideologycantheycompletelydispeltheoppressionofmen,andobtaintherealfreedom,andachievetherealequalityofthesocialstatusbetweenmenandwomen.2.1.1FemaleIndependentPersonalityandRebelliousSpiritThemostdirectexpressionofwoman'sconsciousnessistorefuseandresistthetraditionaldefinitionofwomeninthemale-dominatedsociety,andtoquestionandsubvertthemalepower(张申平,2011).Underthelong-termoppression,bothChineseandwesternwomenunderstandthatwomenshouldknowhowtopreserveowndignityandhaveanindependentpersonality,besides,theyweresoberlyawarethattheyshouldpossessrebelliousspiritandrealizeself-worthandself-esteemfrombothmentallyandphysically.JaneEyreandHalfaLifelongRomancearerepresentativeworksofthiskindoffemaleconsciousness.Andtheheroinesofthesetwoworksshowthespiritofresistingmalepowerandoppressioninfeudalsociety.JaneEyreisasteadfast,enthusiasticandpassionatewoman.Yearningforfreedomandequality,shehadastrongspiritofresistancesinceshewasachild.Thisspiritofresistanceranthroughthenovelandaffectedherwholelife.JaneEyre'slifeexperiencecouldbedividedintothreeperiods.First,herlifeatheraunt'shouse;Whenshewasstillyoung,herparentsdiedofillness.JaneEyrewassenttotheGatesheadManorwhereherunclelived.Afewyearslater,shelivedapoorlifewhenheruncledied.HerstatusinMrs.Reed'sfamilywasinferiortothatofthemaid.Moreover,shewasabusedandbulliedbyheraunt,Mrs.Reedandcousin(John,Eliza,Georgiana).Later,shecouldn’tstandupwiththat,andherfearandpatiencehadbeentaxedtothelimit.Shefoughtwithhereldermalecousin,andrebelledagainstMrs.Reedfacetoface.Second,herlifeatLowoodboardingschool;IfShehadapreliminaryunderstandingofsocialinjusticeatheraunt'shouse,thenatLowoodschoolshehadadeeperunderstandingofthehypocrisyofhumannature.Theheadmasteroftheschoolisacoldhypocrite.Hehurttheorphansbothmentallyandphysically.Janeandotherkidssufferedfrompainandtorturethere,andherbestfriendHelenevendiedofillness.Soshedecidedtoleavethebleakandhorribleplaceandadvertisedforajob.Third,herlifeatThornfieldManor.Tiredoftheeight-yearboringandgloomylife,JaneEyrecametoThornfieldManorasatutorandshesoonfellinlovewiththemalehostRochester.Rochester’sstatusandwealthmakehimsounapproachableaboveJane,yetinhermindsheneverfeltinferiortohimandbelievedeveryonehastherighttolove.Whentheywereabouttogetmarried,Rochester'swifeBerthaappeared.Assoonassheknewthatshewascheated,shedecidedtoleavethehouseandliveanewlifebyherself.Althoughlifeisfulloftribulationsandhardships,shedidn'tgiveup,andshedaredtofightagainstthefate,daredtoburstoutagainstgreaterpower.Atlast,sheovercamepoverty,suffering,customsandotherobstacles,andgotherownhappiness.AsJung(2005)said,“Characterdeterminesfate.”InHalfaLifelongRomance,ManzhenwasborninapoorfamilyatthebottomofShanghaiin1930s.WhenManzhenwasattheageof14,herfatherdied.Hermother,Mrs.Gu,wasatypicaltraditionalwoman,regardingherhusbandasthesolefocusofherlife.WhenMr.Gudied,hermotherwasunabletocarrytheburdenof“home”independently,whichlandedherfamilyindeeptrouble.Hersisterthereforechosetogiveupherloverandtobecomeadancertosupporttheirfamily.Whentheworldandevenhermotherthoughtthathereldersisterwasashameforthefamily.GuManzhenreplied,“inanycase,onceyougodownthatpath,it'sadownhillslope,unlessyouaregoodatthegame.Mysister—she’snotthattype.She’sapersonwithaloyalheart,really.”(张爱玲,2012:31).Althoughshesympathizedwithhersister'ssacrificeforthefamily,shepreferredtomakealivingthroughherownefforts,ratherthansellingherbodytoresolvetheirhouseholdproblems,andshebelievedthatshecouldbefinanciallyindependent.Fromhermotherandeldersister,Manzhensawtheinborninadequacyofthetraditionalfemaleintheirspiritandlife,thusshewaseagertofindoutanewwaytoovercometheshortcomingsofwomenandshowthequalityofwoman'sindependence.Whensheattendedschool,shestudiedunderawork-studyprogramme.AftergraduatingfromUniversity,shechosetogoouttomakemoney.Afterwork,shealsofoundotherpart-timejobs,workingasatypistandtutor.Shehopedtomakealivingthroughherhardworksratherthanrelyingonmen.Shebelievedthatshecouldachieveeconomicindependenceandsurviveindependentlyundersocialdiscrimination.Underthedualenslavementofmalepowerandmoney,Manzhenalwayskeptthecharacterofself-reliance,self-respectandself-improvement(崔晶菁,2015).Inshort,atthefirstglance,JaneEyreandGuManzhenseemedweakandfragile,buttheywereactuallystrongandresoluteintheirminds.Intheirstruggleandconfrontationagainsttheirfamiliesandthesociety,theystrovetochangetheirfate.Wecanseetheirinbornbraveryandstrength,andwecanfeeltheirinnerdissatisfactionwiththerealityandtheirsenseofresistance.Appearingasanewfemaleimagethatseeksindependence,JaneandManzhenrespectivelyrepresentpartsofthewesternandChinesewomenoftheirtimes.Theyhavereceivedcertaineducation,havebeeninfluencedbythenewculture,andarefulloflivelyideasofthetimes.TheiruntimelyandunworldlytenacityandperseverancearethesymboloftheawakeningofChineseandwesternfemaleconsciousnessintheoldtimes.2.1.2ThePursuitofEqualityandFreedomofLoveAccordingtoascholarZhuYiye(2016),theloveoftheprotagonistJaneEyreisbrilliantandshining,whichiswidelyrecognizedasthesoulofthenovel.JaneEyreisthedaughterofapoorclergymanwithahumbleandlowposition.Withoutaprettyfaceandanicefigure,shewasconsideredasacommongirl.However,JaneEyre,suchapoorandordinarywoman,fellinlovewithRochester,whowastheownerofThornfieldhouse,handsomeandextraordinary,and20yearsolderthanher.Shecaredfornothing,notthewealthandstatus,nottheage,butthisman,theonesheloved.Shebravelyshowedherlovetothehostandexpressedthatshehadahungerforspiritualresonanceofloveratherthanmaterialenjoymentoflove.WhenRochesterwantedtogiveherjewelsandpromisedtomarryherlikethedaughterofanaristocrat.Shesaid,“Oh,sir!—Don'ttalkaboutjewelry!Idon'twanttohearaboutthosethings’’(Bronte,1996:153).Infact,itwasheruprightness,loftinessandsinceritythattouchedRochester.RochesterfeltfromthebottomofhisheartthatJanewasthespiritualpartnerhealwayslongedfor.Inhercourseofseekinglove,shealwayskeptherpersonalityindependentandupheldtheprincipleofmutualrespect,freedomandequalityinlove.“WhatJaneEyrepursuesisalovethatbreaksthroughthesocialclassrestriction,andwhatshewantsisalovethatisequalinspiritandindependentinpersonality”(章莉,2017(02):65).LikeJaneEyre,GuManzhen,wasborninahumblebackground,butshewasabraveandconfidentgirl.Inthefaceofherloverwithadiverseidentity,Guanzhenisverypersistent.Shetriedtobreakthroughalltheobstaclesandnevergaveupaglimmerofhopewhenshewaslookeddownuponbyothers.Shepursuedakindoflovewhichissingle-mindedandspecific,furthermore,shewouldliketomarryapersonwhoseloveforherwastrue,consistentandjustifiableratherthanbeingforcedtomarryapeoplebytheoldideathatpeopleshouldmarryfamiliesofequalsocialrank.Therefore,whenshefellinlovewithShenShijun,shewasnotself-abasedbecauseofherfamilybackground,nordidshefeelinferiorwhenfacingShijun’sprominentfamilybackground.Besides,sheevenaskedhimtogiveupinheritingthefamilypropertyandmakeacareerthroughhisownstruggle.Unliketraditionalwomen,suchasManlu,whoseideologywasdecadent,Manzhencouldnotaccepttheexistenceofconcubineatall.Evenlater,ManzhenwasframedbyhersisterandZhuHongcaiandloseherchastity,shedidn’tgiveupstruggling.Whenshewasbullied,humiliated,andimprisonedforalmostoneyearbyherrelatives,ManzhendidnotabandonherselfbecauseshehadabeliefthatShijunwasstillwaitingforherreturn,andshealsohadaaspirationforherperfectloveandbrightfuture.AlthoughJaneEyreandGuManzhenpursuedtheirloveandmarriageindifferentwaysandindifferentsocialbackgrounds,theybothhaddelicateemotionsandlookedforwardtothehappinessoflove.Theywerebraveenoughtoexpresstheirlongingforthehappydays.Inaddition,theycametohavetheconsciousnessthattheymustgainequalstatusinfamilyandsocietybyconstantlychangingandimprovingthemselves.2.2DifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternFemaleConsciousnessViewedfromallkindsoffemaleliteraryworksfarandwide,therearealsoplentyofdifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternfemaleconsciousness.AccordingtosomeChinesefeminineliterature,forinstance,RomanceoftheWesternChamberandLoveinaFallenCity，theresistanceofwomeninChinacarriessomeweaknesswithitself.Chinesewomenfightagainsttheunequaltreatmentinamoregentleway,oreventendtobearinequalityoftreatment.Likemostoftheheroineinthefamousworks,manywomenhaveamiserablelife,eitherlovingawrongguy.Worsestill,regardedaschild-bearer,apartofwomenhavebeenabusedandtorturedthroughouttheirlives,andsomehavebeenbeatentodeath.Whilewesternwoman'sfightismainlypositiveintheend,womencangettheirhappinessafteralongtimeofhardshipandstruggle,likethecharacterJaneEyre,thereareafewexamples:Elizabeth,Eleanor,andMarian.Inmodernwesternsociety,itwasalsoapatriarchalsociety,andmostofwomenwerediscriminatedandill-treated,andalotofwomenweresubjecttowhippingandimprisonment.Nevertheless,thewesternwomentendtoberationalandintuitive.Theyaremoreactiveinlifeandtheytakeaffirmativemeasurestoachieveahappyendingoftheirmarriageaswellasagloriousfuturethroughtheircontinuousefforts.Moreimportantly,theywerenotsubservientandwouldfightbackdirectlymostofthetime.2.2.1WesternWomen:FightforHappinessAsarepresentativeofwesternwomen,JaneEyrewasdesignatedasthenewfemaleimagewithwoman’sconsciousnessinthatera.WangGuofu,authoroftheLiteraryTheoryofFeminism,says:“JaneEyreembodiesanewconceptionofwomenasheroinesofvitalstrengthandpassionatefeelings”(WangGuofu,1987:225).DifferentfromGuManzhen'srecreanceandhesitation,theawakeningofthefemaleconsciousnessmanifestedinJaneEyreshowsinallaspects,nomatterinherdailylifeorinpursuingherlove.Shechosetoreactagainsttheunfairtreatmentanddiscriminationdirectly.“Fearlessasshewas,shetenaciouslyfoughtagainsttheoppressionfrompeople,family,society,andallaspectsfromallwalksoflife”(章莉,2017(02):65).WhenshefoundthatshehasfellinlovewithRochester,shekeptcalmandnevergaveup.Shedidnotconcealanythingfromhim,andexpressedherlovetohimfrankly.FacingtherealitythatRochesterhadawife,shedaredtoleavewithoutanycompromise.TheninMoorHouse,StJohnusedthecarrotaswellasthestick,forcingJanetomarryhim,andaskedhertogotoIndiawithhimasamissionary.Sherefusedthemissionary'sproposalfirmly.JaneEyrecouldnotaccepthimbecausehislovewouldbe“oneofduty,notofpassion”(Terry,1987:29).Intheend,Rochester'smanorwasburneddownbyfire,thepropertywaslost.Blindinhiseyes,hebecameadisabledperson.Despitealltheloss,JaneEyreresolutelyreturnedtohimandspenttherestofherlifewithhim.Asaresult,shereapedherlong-awaitedlovewithdignity.2.2.2ChineseWomen:ConflictBetweenBraveryandCowardiceInthenovelofHalfaLifelongRomance,GuManzhenhadoftenbeentrappedinapairofcontradictions.Ontheonehand,sheshowedthebraveryandfearlessnessinresistingtothepatriarchalsociety.Thoughhersister’sjobwasdisgraceful,sheneverlookeddownuponher.Tosupportherselfandherfamily,Manzhenworkedharddayandnight.Sheneverwentastrayundertheburdenoflife,shealwayskeptinmindnottofollowthesameolddisastrousroad.However,ontheotherhand,shewasnearlyunabletochangeherinherentcowardiceunderthemonopolyofthemale-controlledsociety.Inthestory,treatedbyhersisterandbrother-in-law,shewasimprisonedinthebasementforalmostoneyear.Asshemanagedtoescapefromthecage,shefoundthatShijunwasmarried.ThenewsthatShijunandShiCuizhihadbeenmarriedmadeManzhen'sspiritualpillarcollapse.Shefeltthat“theworldwaschanging.Ican'timaginethatIhadbeenlockedupinZhuHongcai’shousefornearlyayear,andtheoutsideworldhadalreadychanged”(张爱玲,2012:215).Withtheonlybeliefcollapsing,shebeganfallingintoadepressionsothatshemarriedZhuHongcaiandlivedalifeofwalkingdead.It’salsobecausehersonwassufferingmiseryandtorturefromhousemaid,shewentbacktothecagewhereshehadtriedtoleave.Consequently,thesetwoaspectshaveasignificantlyimportantinfluenceonGuManzhen'sgrowthandherfinaltragedy.JustasChenhong(2015)puts,“thisisnotonlybecauseofthemalformationofvariousmarriagevaluesintheera,butalsobecauseGuManzhenwasnotacompletelybravewomen,whileapersonwholiesintheswingbetweenbraveryandcowardice.”3.TheReasonsforDifferentDegreeofFemaleConsciousnessAwakeningManifestedinJaneEyreandHalfaLifelongRomance3.1DifferentHistoricalBackgroundThestoryofJaneEyretookplaceduringthereignofVictoria.Atthattime,aftertheRenaissance,westernwoman'sconsciousnessroserapidly,andfeministactivitiesbecamemorefrequent.Insuchasocialenvironment,theawakeningofwoman'sconsciousnesshadgraduallybeenmature.Womenhadbeenabletocorrectlyrecognizetheirvalueinthesociety,andtheirdesireforequalityandindependencehadbecomestrongeranddeeper.Inaddition,thesocialculturalsoilatthattimeprovidedtheconditionsforwesternwomentohavemorerightsandinterests.Hence,JaneEyre'sself-awareness,affirmationofherownvalue,andtheassertionaboutthelifesheispursuingandyearningfor,allprovedthatherfemaleawakeninghasreachedarelativelymaturestage.“JaneEyrewasnotonlythesymboloftheawakeningoffemaleconsciousness,butalsotheprairiefireoftheawakeningoffemaleconsciousness”(章莉,2017(02):67).HalfaLifelongRomance’sstorywasbasedonthelifeoftheRepublicofChinainmoderntimes.Aftermorethantwothousandyearsoffeudalrule,modernChinaisstillundertheinfluenceoffeudalism.AlthoughitwasnearlyacenturyawayfromtheperiodofJaneEyre,withthedominanceofthetraditionalfeudalismatthattime,thefemalesubjectconsciousnessevenlaggedbehindtheVictoriaPeriod.Underthiskindofsocialbackground,GuManzhen,anewerawoman,grewupinthecultivationoffeudalcultureandethics,whosefemaleconsciousnesswasawakeningindeepconcern,hesitationandstruggle.Inaword,ItisinthedifferenthistoricalbackgroundthatJaneEyreandGuManzhenhavedifferentdegreeoffemaleconsciousnessawareness.3.2DifferentChineseandWesternTraditionalCultureSinceancienttimes,ChinesepeoplehavebelievedintraditionalConfucianculture,whichemphasizestheideaofharmony.Asthesayinggoes,ifyouarepatientinonemomentofanger,youwillescapeahundreddaysofsorrow.Therefore,influencedbythiskindofculture,Chinesewomenfightagainsttheunequaltreatmentinamoremoderateway,oreventendtobeartheunequaltreatment.Traditionalwesterncultureisbasedonrationalismsothattheywillresistfrombeginningtoend,andstrivefortheirownhappinesswhentheyareoppressedbythesociety.Chinesefemaleconsciousnessfocusesoncollectivism,whileWesternfemaleconsciousnessemphasizesindividualism.InChina,peopleisoftendependentonthecollectiveconsciousnessawakeningofthewholeoppressedwomen.WomenofChinaexpecttocreatevalueandachievetheiridealsocialstatusthroughtheircommonprogressandefforts.Theydon’tbelievethatindividualswillmakeadifference.Incontrast,westernwomengiveagreatprioritytotheawakeningofself-consciousness,andtheybelievethatpersonalawakeningcandrivetheprogressofcollectiveconsciousness.Westernwomendesiretopursuetheirequalstatusinthesocietythroughthecontinuousimprovementoftheirpersonalqualityandthecontinuousrealizationoftheirself-worth.Consequently,intheMay4thperiodwhilethefeudalagewasatitszenith,amajorityofwomen,likeGuManzhen,couldnotchangethehistoricaltraditionalculturebythemselves,buthadtocomplywiththefeudalethics.Butthesituationwasslightlybetterinthewest.Theyalsosufferedfromalotunequaltreatmentwhereaspartofthemfinallyovercametheobstacles.3.3DifferentResistanceConsciousnessoftheHostessJaneEyrewasanordinarywomanoflowbirthandplainappearance,butshehadthecouragetochallengethepatriarchalsociety,topursuefreedomandequality,andshefinallygothappinessthroughherunremittingefforts.Shesaid:“Ifwearebeatenfornoreason,weshouldfightbackveryhard.Ibelieveweshouldfighthardenoughtoteachthepeoplewhobeatusnevertofightagain.”(Bronte,1996:106).ThebiggestdiversitybetweenJaneEyreandManzhenisthatJanehasamazingcourageandendurancesomuchsothatsherefusedtoabandonthespiritofresistanceandindependence.TherebelliousspiritendowsJaneEyrewithvividcharmandmakesherdifferentfromsurroundings.Janebrookednocompromisewiththefateoftheenvironment,hadthecouragetoresistinthedesperatestruggle,andstrovefortherighttobeadecenthuman.Thisis