第一篇:《简爱》中的女权主义意识
学科代码:050201
贵州师范大学求是学院
(本科)毕业论文
论《简爱》中的女权主义意识
系
别:外语系 专
业:英语教育 班
级:2010级4班 学
号: 学生姓名: 指导教师:
论《简爱》中的女权主义意识
摘 要:《简·爱》是现实主义时期著名的女作家夏洛蒂·勃朗特的代表作品,她被认为是一位卓越的女作家。因为她在小说中描述的是与传统不同的女主人公简·爱勇于追求自由、平等和独立的精神。它也是作者的自传体小说。小说通过对简·爱的性格进行剖析,证明了简·爱是一个标准的女权主义者。简·爱这个人物形象,博得读者的爱怜,在英国文学史上是位具有代表性的人物,不仅表现在外表的朴实无华,而且还表现在她性格上的独特魅力。简·爱因其性格中所具有的强烈反抗意识而特别地引人注目。她坚持自己的原则去不断反抗不公平的社会。她用尽全力去追求自由,平等,独立和真爱。经过坚持不懈的努力她最终获得自尊,自由和真爱。
关键词:女权;反叛;独立;平等;真爱
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II
Analysis of the Feminism Consciousness
in Jane Eyre
Abstract:Jane Eyre is the most famous work of Charlotte Bronte, who is considered as an extraordinary woman novelist.Because the novel throbs with the heart-beats of its author, both literary critics and the readers have taken great interest in its unconventional heroine Jane Eyre, whose unconventionality is shown in the heroine’s pursuit of liberty, equality and independence.It is an autobiographical novel in a certain degree.This essay attempts to prove Jane is a real feminist through the analysis of her personality.Jane Eyre is a typical and magnificent representative in English literature, not only for her plain but famous appearance but also for her character’s outstanding and alien.The image of Jane Eyre is brilliant for her rebellious character.She always insists on her principle to rebel and fight against the unjust world bravely.She still tries her best to pursue freedom, equality, independence and true love.By unremitting efforts she finally gets dignity, freedom and true love.Key word: feminist;rebel;independence;equality;true love
III
目录
摘要............................................................................................错误!未定义书签。Abstract.....................................................................................错误!未定义书签。前 言.........................................................................................错误!未定义书签。
一、作者女权主义思想的产生.........................................错误!未定义书签。
(一)作者夏洛蒂·勃朗特的介绍.....................................错误!未定义书签。
(二)作品《简爱》的介绍.................................................错误!未定义书签。
二、《简爱》中女权主义思想...........................................错误!未定义书签。
(一)自尊心、自信心、反抗精神.....................................错误!未定义书签。
(二)简爱的爱情观.............................................................错误!未定义书签。
(三)简爱的独立性.............................................................错误!未定义书签。
三、《简爱》中女权主义反抗意识.................................错误!未定义书签。
(一)为生存而战.................................................................错误!未定义书签。
(二)为获得认同和尊严而战.............................................错误!未定义书签。
(三)为独立平等而战.........................................................错误!未定义书签。
四、结语..................................................................................错误!未定义书签。参考文献..................................................................................错误!未定义书签。致谢............................................................................................错误!未定义书签。独 创 性 声 明....................................................................错误!未定义书签。授 权 申 明.........................................................................错误!未定义书签。
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前 言
当今社会,女权主义受到越来越多人的重视,女权主义泛指妇女要求平等权利的社会思潮。又称男女平权主义、男女平等主义。女权主义是近代资产阶级启蒙思想运动和妇女解放运动的产物,提倡妇女在人类生活所有领域与男子具有同等权利。女权主义具有广泛的文化内涵,涉及政治、经济、法律、教育、宗教、伦理等领域。
在19世纪的英国,一位批评现实主义的文学女作家夏洛蒂·勃朗特写出了一部代表女性主义思想的小说—《简·爱》。这部小说是夏洛蒂·勃朗特“诗意的生平写照”。书中的主人公简·爱是一个心地纯洁、善于思考的女性。她生活在社会底层,受尽磨难,但她有倔强的性格和勇于追求平等幸福的精神。这部小说以浓郁抒情的笔法和深刻细腻的心理描写,引人入胜地展示了男女主人公曲折起伏的爱情经历,歌颂了摆脱一切旧习俗和偏见,扎根于相互理解、相互尊重的基础之上的深挚爱情,具有强烈的震撼心灵的艺术力量。它最为成功之处在于塑造了一个敢于反抗,敢于争取自由和平等地位的妇女形象。
一、作者女权主义思想的产生
(一)作者夏洛蒂·勃朗特的介绍
《简·爱》的作者--夏洛蒂·勃朗特(Charlotte Bronte),生于1816年英国北部的一个乡村牧师家庭。她所生活的的三十年间正是英国社会动荡的时代。资本主义正在发展并越来越暴露它内在的缺陷;劳资之间矛盾尖锐化;失业工人的贫困;大量的童工被残酷地折磨至死。社会和时代的不幸已经让这位女作家的家庭穷困潦倒,家庭的不幸更是让她陷入巨大的困境当中。母亲早逝,八岁的夏洛蒂被送进一所专收神职人员孤女的慈善性机构。在那里生活条件极其恶劣,她的两个姐姐玛丽亚和伊丽莎白因染上肺病而先后死去。于是夏洛蒂和妹妹艾米莉回到家乡,在荒凉的约克郡山区度过了童年。
15岁时她进了伍勒小姐办的学校读书,几年后又在这个学校当教师。后来她曾作家庭教师,但因不能忍受贵妇人、阔小姐对家庭教师的歧视和刻薄,放弃了家庭教
小说主要描写了简·爱与罗契斯特的爱情。简·爱的爱情观更加深化了她的个性。她认为爱情应该建立在精神平等的基础上,而不应取决于社会地位、财富和外貌。只有男女双方彼此真正相爱,才能得到真正的幸福。在追求个人幸福时,简·爱表现出异乎寻常的纯真、朴实的思想感情和勇往直前的勇气。她并没有因为自己的仆人地位而放弃对幸福的追求,她的爱情是纯洁高尚的,她对罗契斯特的财富不屑一顾,她之所以钟情于他,就是因为他能平等待人,把她视作朋友,与她坦诚相见。对罗契斯特说来,简·爱犹如一股清新的风,使他精神为之一振。罗契斯特过去看惯了上层社会的冷酷虚伪,简·爱的纯朴、善良和独立的个性重新唤起他对生活的追求和向往。因而他能真诚地在简面前表达他的愿望和改过的决心。
简·爱同情罗契斯特不幸的命运,认为他的错误是客观环境造成的。尽管他其貌不扬,后来又破产成了残废,但她看到的是他内心的美和令人同情的不幸命运,所以最终与他结婚。小说通过罗契斯特两次截然不同的爱情经历,批判了以金钱为基础的婚姻和爱情观,并始终把简·爱和罗契斯特之间的爱情描写为思想、才能、品质与精神上的完全默契。
简·爱是个不甘忍受社会压迫、勇于追求个人幸福的女性。无论是她的贫困低下的社会地位,或是她那漂泊无依的生活遭遇,都是当时英国下层人民生活的真实写照。作者能够把一个来自社会下层的觉醒中的新女性摆到小说的主人公地位,并对主人公为反抗压迫和社会偏见、力争独立的人格和尊严、为追求幸福生活所作的顽强斗争加以热情歌颂,这在当时的文学作品中是难能可贵的。简·爱平凡的外表下面隐藏着不朽的灵魂,在这个平庸的世界上显得异常珍贵,灼然夺目。她的不屈不挠,勇于抗争的精神指明了一条女性的道路,告诉天下所有的女性:要敢于对不公的命运说不,勇敢的追求自由、平等和幸福。
二、《简爱》中女权主义思想
(一)自尊心、自信心、反抗精神
幼年时的简.爱由于父母双双染病去世,她被送到盖茨赫德庄园,寄居在舅舅家中。可雪上加霜的是盖茨赫德的原主人里德先生—简爱的舅舅也过早的弃她而去。舅妈觉得她是一个“天性恶毒、想法卑劣、特别爱撒谎”的人,于是对她百般刁难。表
[2]
德府使简爱感受到“这儿有想象中的完美无缺的家庭安乐气氛”。事实证明了她的预感的正确性,后来她成了罗切斯特的妻子果真成了这个家庭中的成员。
这个家的主人叫罗切斯特,他是个苦命的人,顽固的封建伦理道德酿成了罗切斯特的不幸婚姻。他大学毕业后在父亲的安排下他娶了心胸狭窄的梅森小姐为妻。尽管美森的外表靓丽,然而她的脾气确实极端的坏,她与罗切斯特的志趣格格不入。罗切斯特痛苦地感觉到“我们之间根本无法进行亲切的交谈,因为不管我谈起什么话题马上就会从她那儿听到既粗俗又陈腐、既乖张又愚蠢的回答”。
当罗切斯特第一次看到简爱时他就感到了“有一种全新的东西一种新的活力和新的感觉不知不觉传便了我的全身”。这种新的感觉其实就是罗切斯特的真爱之梦将成为现实,这种感觉和简爱所预见的感觉一样也是正确的。从和简爱相见、相识到相爱的过程当中,简爱的那种叛逆精神、自强自尊的品质深深地征服了罗切斯特,而罗切斯特的优雅风度和渊博知识同样也征服了简爱。
简爱与罗切斯特的婚姻变故促使她离开了桑菲尔德府,离开了她心爱的罗切斯特。经过了寒冷饥饿的折磨无家可归的简爱终于进了她的人生的又一个驿站—圣约翰家。对于亲情的十分看重当她从叔叔那里继承了两万英镑的遗产时,她毫不犹豫地决定和她的三个表哥、表姐平分这份遗产。可见在简爱的眼中钱尽管很重要,但是比起亲情来就显得微不足道了。这与当时一切以钱为中心的人际关系形成了鲜明的对比。她认为“我不至于自私自利到不讲情义,不讲公道到不分是非,忘恩负义到不像人样”[2]。这是她对当时的金钱社会的有力抨击和尖锐的痛恨。
圣约翰是一个知识渊博,长相英俊的传教士。但是他不会享受生活的乐趣,整天到晚和时间挑战。他认为工作是高于一切的,甚至包括生命和爱情。圣约翰为了他的伟大事业到东方印度传教,他十分痛苦地压抑了这份欲望。简爱对于他的选择简直是不可思议,有爱却不敢爱,有了爱情却不敢追求。另一方面当圣约翰发觉,简爱是一个有见识、有才智的女子的时候,他就向简爱求婚了,不是因为他爱简爱,而是因为他知道,如果娶简爱为妻,对他的事业将是一个很大的帮助。这是多么自私的想法。
简爱和罗切斯特的心灵感应使他们走到了一块,尽管当简爱回到桑菲尔德府时她面对的是一个双眼已瞎,一只手已经残废的罗切斯特。但是,在简爱看来这些都是不重要的。只要罗切斯特爱她她也爱罗切斯特就已经足够了。她毅然与罗切斯特结婚,当起了罗切斯特的妻子和护士。两年以后命运垂青了,这么一对恩爱的夫妻他们有了自己的孩子。罗切斯特的一只眼睛也恢复了视力,他们过着幸福的生活。我们看到
(二)为获得认同和尊严而战
简爱在被家人认为是“坏孩子”赶出来之后被送往孤儿院。(当时看来是慈善学校的一种)通常在这里小孩受到压迫和非人的虐待。她的视眼变得开阔了,性格中带着更加愤怒的火花。由此可见,简爱为获得认同和尊严而战在罗伍德学校渐渐发展起来。融科赫斯特先生是学校里最为贪婪虚伪的代表,对简爱的最初印象是像动物一样大大的鼻子,突出的门牙。他在学校惩罚人的责任称为拯救所谓的灵魂,他迫使学校所有的女孩剪掉头发,饥寒交迫,像奴隶一样对待她们,简爱也不例外。当简爱摔坏了凳子时受到公然惩罚。她被罚站在凳子上一个半小时,融科赫斯特先生不仅公然羞辱她而且宣布她是骗子。因此简爱感到非常失望,此时此刻无法用语言表达她的痛苦。“我想变乖,在罗伍德学校我认真做事,学会尊重别人,我已经取得了显著地进步,成为班上第一名。米莉小姐经常表扬我,疼普小姐笑着赞许我,我受到同学们的一致好评,在他们眼中我是平等的。”[2]
为什么简爱会想离开盖茨黑德?原因是瑞德和他的家人对她漠不关心,她想受到家人的尊重。在她看来,人与人之间是平等的。所以她反对不合理的惩罚,视它为人格的侮辱,接着她开始为尊重而战。如果别人不爱她,她宁愿去死也不愿活在这世上。由于融科赫斯特先生的谣言她受到其他同学的鄙视,尤其是她获得老师和同学的尊重和认可后,她绝望了以至于不能正常学习直到后来天普小姐为她澄清污名,同学像以前那样对待她才渐渐好起来。简爱这才认为世界是如此美丽,也不再抱怨学校的伙食,尽管很难咽下。
(三)为独立平等而战
简爱的独立意识让她在很小的时候就开始学着独立,简爱经常提醒自己命运应该掌握在自己手里,她拒绝罗切斯特送给她的珠宝和衣服,认为他所送的手镯项链戒指等都是奴役的象征。尽管艾比德政府提供她一年30英镑,简爱还是继续过着她平庸的生活,她觉得靠自己努力赚来的钱买衣服心安理得。这些行为不仅表现了简爱女性独立信念而且反应了她渴望了解世界与不同人交流的思想。当她在丝绒菲尔德庄园过着简朴的生活时,开始后悔没有出去旅游,向其他女性表达她的情感。
我们发现简爱的生活一开始就没有父母,没有金钱,地位低下,恶劣的成长环境,也不漂亮但是足够勇敢足够坚强。她可能是社会上微不足道的人但却是自己的主人。
勇敢果决的走出了灰姑娘的童话,迈向一个有着新女性、真女性的文学道路的起步。简·爱藐视财富、社会地位和宗教的威仪,她认为,“真正的幸福,在于美好的精神世界和高尚纯洁的心灵。”[10]她的信念和行动展现出来的力量,深深打动了一代又一代读者的心,使生活在金钱万能的社会中的人们的灵魂得到净化。简·爱是一个对自己的思想和人格有着理性认识的女性,一个对自己的幸福和情感有着坚定追求的性,一个不再只是盲从于男人和世俗要求的女性,一个对自己的价值和情感做出了独立判断的女性,一个坚强独立的女性。夏洛蒂·勃朗特创造了一个前所未有的女性形象;简·爱发出了一个属于女性自己的声音—对于平等、独立、完整、自由的坚持和追求。作品当中处处散发着女性主义的光辉,它所倡导的女性经济独立意识,女性自我意识以及进步的婚姻观,至今仍然闪烁着耀眼的光芒。它像是一个风标,指引着千千万万的女性去追求自由、平等和幸福。
但她的思想也有一定的局限性。纵观夏洛蒂的人生路程,可以发现自卑感是笼罩其一生的阴影,所以,她笔下的人物有时也有一种自卑感。“穷、低微、矮小、不美”是简·爱对自己的评价,这一客观事实也是她产生自卑的根源。在这一评价之中,既有对自身形象的哀叹,也有对家境出身的不满。二者都对简·爱的人生选择产生了巨大的影响。在自卑感作祟下,简·爱在一定程度上认同了世俗的评价标准。所以,即使赢得了罗切斯特的爱情,简·爱也一直处于一种患得患失的状态,没有足够的信心来维系这份感情,因为她隐隐感觉到世俗的强大力量在威胁着他们。[11]所以,当知道阁楼上疯女人的真实身份之后,简·爱选择了自我放逐。从心理上来说,这是一种逃避的行为,而自卑心理正是导致回避行为的主因。
她还无法摆脱的男权束缚作为女权主义的先驱者,夏洛蒂塑造的简·爱在一定程度上突破了维多利亚时代女性存在价值的限定。但是,长期沿袭下来的男权文化和男权话语的负面影响不可能在一夜之间就彻底肃清。她只是在家庭或经济领域内关注女性,而没有深入更广泛的社会领域,即政治层面。
夏洛蒂仅仅局限于表现在婚姻和家庭中,女性的遭遇以及她们对男权主义的愤怒和反抗上面,却并没有揭示女性问题的实质,当然也没有指出实现女性解放的有效途径,更无法体会到女性解放只有建立在女性价值的全面实现,建立在社会压抑的解除和女性的彻底解放上。这样,夏洛蒂一方而期盼着女性有独立自主的意识,一方而却又无法摆脱时代传统观念束缚。就像她的作品《简爱》中主人公简爱以一个“拯救者”的身份回归家庭。这体现出了夏洛蒂女权主义思想的局限性,即她认为女人的幸福仍
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参考文献
[1]陆扬,张艳.拉康与弗洛伊德:无意识结构的语言分析[J].西北师范大学学报,2005(7).[2]Bronte Charlotte·Jane Eyre [M].Beijing: Yili People’s Publishing House,2002:23-24.[3] 魏琴.试析女性主义意识在《简·爱》中的体现[J].文化研究.2009(12): 249-250.[4]朱虹.《简爱》与女性意识[J].河南大学学报,1987:5.
[5]路甬祥.简爱的性格分析 [M].北京 : 北京大学出版社,2006:73-76.[6]吴 朋.《简爱》中简爱的人格魅力 [J].外语界,2001(6):16-21.[7]王惠昭.浅析《简爱》中的女性价值观 [M].外语与外语教学,2001:29-31.[8]朱虹.最后一幅素描[M].天津:百花文艺出版社,2008.[9]夏洛特·勃朗特著.《简爱》,黄源深译.南京:意林出版社,2006(11).[10] 刘淑华.浅谈筒爱的性格:反抗与独立[J].沈阳师范学院学报,1994(4).[11] 赵海虹.《简爱》的失败[J].外国文学,2004.21314-
第二篇:《简爱》中女权主义意识(英文)
青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸
摘 要
《简·爱》是现实主义时期著名的女作家夏洛蒂·勃朗特的代表作品,她被认为是一位卓越的女作家。因为她在小说中描述的是与传统不同的女主人公简·爱的勇于追求自由、平等和独立精神。它也是作者的自传体小说。通过对简·爱的性格进行剖析,证明了简·爱是一个标准的女权主义者。简·爱这个人物形象,博得读者的爱怜,在英国文学史上是位具有代表性的人物,不仅表现在外表的朴实无华,而且表现在她性格上的独特魅力。简·爱因其性格中所具有的强烈反抗意识而特别地引人注目。她坚持自己的原则去不断反抗不公平的社会。她用尽全力去追求自由,平等,独立和真爱。经过坚持不懈的努力她最终获得自尊,自由和真爱。
关键词:女权, 反叛, 独立,平等, 真爱
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ABSTRACT
Jane Eyre is the most famous work of Charlotte Bronte, who is considered as an extraordinary woman novelist.Because the novel throbs with the heart-beats of its author, both literary critics and the readers have taken great interest in its unconventional heroine Jane Eyre, whose unconventionality is shown in the heroine‘s pursuit of liberty, equality and independence.It is an autobiographical novel in a certain degree.This essay attempts to prove Jane is a real feminist through the analysis of her personality.Jane Eyre is a typical and magnificent representative in English literature, not only for her plain but famous appearance but also for her character‘s outstanding and alien thoughts.The image of Jane Eyre is brilliant for her rebellious character.She always insists on her principle to rebel and fights bravely against the unjust world.She still tries her best to pursue freedom, equality, independence and true love.By unremitting efforts she finally gets dignity, freedom and true love.KEY WORDS: feminist, rebel, independence, equality, true love
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Contents
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………..(9)Chapter One The Development of Jane Eyre‘s Resistance ……………………...(10)
1.1 Outburst period at Gateshead …………………………………………...(10)
1.2 Jane‘s resistance at Lowood Institution ………………………………(11)1.3 The perfection period at Thornfield and Moor House ………………….(13)Chapter Two Jane Eyre‘s Pursuit of Independence and Freedom ……………….(14)2.1 Jane begins to realize the importance of independence and freedom …(14)2.2 Jane gains strength from her teacher and her friend to achieve her
independence ………………………………………………………....(14)2.3 Jane develops her independence fully and learns the pleasure of it......(15)Chapter Three Jane Eyre‘s Attitude Towards Love ……………………………(18)3.1 True love should be based on equality and mutual understanding………..(18)3.2 The marriage pursued by women must be based on true love ……........(19)Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………….(23)Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………(24)Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………(25)
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Introduction
Charlotte Bronte, an English writer, is a great critical realist in the 19th century.She writes lots of works in her life.She sets to work on a new novel, Jane Eyre, which is published in August, 1847.Jane Eyre is her masterpiece which is a world famous novel.Jane Eyre has been translated into many languages and is always high in reading popularity.Jane Eyre, a plain, timid, weak and pale girl who appears to be a heroine, exists in numerous people’s minds.It seems to be a strange phenomenon.How can she arouse the eminent attention of the readers throughout the world? Because Jane Eyre stands for an idealized woman in the 19th century.Charlotte Bronte aims at awakening women's consciousness and courage to equal rights and freedom.Jane Eyre cuts a completely new woman image.She represents those middle-class working women who are struggling for the recognition of their basic rights and equality as a human being.Jane strives with all difficulties to gain women’s liberation and to pursue freedom, equality and true love.The analysis of Jane‘s personalities and her attitudes toward love has shown partly Jane‘s love — a kind of direct, enthusiastic and faithful love.The story of the independent-minded Jane and her love affair with Mr.Rochester opens up new dimension for women.She is a typical character of awakening bourgeois intellectual women.The heroine Jane moves most readers as a kind and unique image in spite of her plainness, poverty and low position.The profound meaning of Jane‘s personalities makes this novel an extremely important work lists in the history of world literature as well as in the English literature.第9页
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Chapter One The Development of Jane Eyre’s Resistance
1.1 Outburst period at Gateshead
Jane Eyre seems to be pale, thin and weak.She is like a piece of dust, nobody pays attention to her.At any time she may disappear.She was born an orphan, with an unfortunate family and long time repressive feeling;she builds up her resistant emotion.Under this background, everyone looks down upon her.Jane asks herself ―why was I always suffering, always browbeaten, always abused, for ever condemned.‖(Bronte, 2002:13)Her reason says ―unjust!-unjust!‖(Bronte, 2002:14)A first angry voice bursts out from her deep heart.When John beats her again, she attacks him viciously.She shouts at him, ―Wicked and cruel boy!You are like a murderer —you are like a slave-driver—you are like the Roman emperors!“(Bronte, 2002:7)When Mrs.Reed tells Mr.Brocklehurst that Jane has a bad character and a deceitful disposition, she defends that ―I am not deceitful: if I were, I should say I loved you;but I declare I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of anybody in the world except John Reed;and this book about the liar, you may give it to your girl, Georgiana, for it is she who tells lies, and not I.”(Bronte, 2002:48)However, Jane is a brave soldier who dares to face up all kinds of injustice and fights against them.Before she leaves Gateshead, she rebukes her aunt‘s cruelty, ―How dare I, Mrs.Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth.You think I have no feelings and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness;but I cannot live so: and you have no pity.I shall remember how you thrust me back—roughly and violently thrust me back—into the red-room, and locked me up there, to my dying day;though I was in agony;though I cried out, while suffocating with distress, ‗Have mercy!Have mercy, Aunt Reed!‘ And that punishment you made me suffer because your wicked boy struck me—knocked me down for nothing.I will tell anybody who asks me questions, this exact tale.People think you a good woman, but you are bad, hard-hearted.You are deceitful!‖(Bronte, 2002:49)Jane suffers various violent treatments by her aunt and
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cousins;she tries her best to be a good girl but only results in failure in Mrs.Reed‘s eyes.Jane resists and resists, but finally breaks out and speaks all her anger;Jane‘s courage frightens Mrs.Reed, for she knows Jane is right.In those days at Gateshead Hall, Jane's strong, brave and unbending characteristics are expressed step by step.Her every behavior shows her great indignation.Isolation, poverty, discrimination and oppression cause her to revolt against the unfair society in her own way.Jane is driven away from and escapes from Reed‘s house partly because of fearless courage.Jane fights not only for just treatment, but also for equality.This is the first step of the development of Jane Eyre‘s rebellious character.1.2 Jane’s resistance at Lowood Institution Lowood Institution is a charity school for poor clergymen‘s daughters.Jane lives here for eight years.Her rebellious sprits become mature.In fact it is a hell for poor girls.The school is like a prison dominated by cold, implacable cruelty and Brocklehurst.Children here are not supplied with enough food, clothes and good treatment of disease.Many of them die of illness.They have no love and sympathy at all, living in hunger and cold.Children must pray for God and thank for oppressors.Helen, a clever, intelligent and beautiful girl receives curse and beat, finally loses her young life.She believes in God.She says to Jane, ―I am sure there is a future state;I believe God is good;I can resign my immortal part to Him without any misgiving.God is my father;God is my friend: I love Him;I believe He loves me.‖(Bronte, 2002:121)Just because of these ideas, Helen hasn‘t a little rebel against that kind of cruel treatment.However Jane is not like Helen.She always tries to rebel, though she is still a child.She tells Helen: ―A great deal: you are good to those who are good to you.It is all I ever desire to be.If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse.When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard;I am sure we
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should—so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again."(Bronte, 2002:82)This rhythmic and forceful speech embodies the deep bourgeois oppression of the lower women and Jane‘s rebellious spirit.To achieve independence as an equal human, Jane never yields to fate and background.She does as she says.Her attitude towards her cousins, her aunt and Mr.Brocklehurst all proves it.Another woman, Miss Temple, is also admired and deeply loved by Jane.Miss Temple‘s learning stimulates Jane‘s longing for intelligence and Miss Temple‘s kindness stirs up her enthusiasm for ideal life.So when Miss Temple leaves Lowood, Jane can‘t put up with dullness and isolation there.She thinks that now she is left in her natural element, and begins to feel the stirring of old emotions.Jane looks forward to a new life and a free sky.No matter what will happen in the future, she will face it bravely.The rebellious fury is burnt again.Then Jane makes an advertisement and gets a governess profession at Thornfield.In this period, Jane‘s rebellious spirit is up to a new standard and catches a more profound meaning.Her fighting is not only against a person, but against the social convention.1.3 The perfection period at Thornfield and Moor House At Thornfield, Jane, as a grown-up, changes her harshness into a refined woman with good education, delicacy of feeling and gentleness of manners.At Thornfield she gets along well with everyone.Jane is mild to everyone.Adele, a girl without talent is carefully taught by Jane and made safe and happy.In such a wild world, she forgets her pain and her misery.Furthermore, she learns to be tolerant to others‘ shortcomings.Hearing that Mrs.Reed is dying, she comes back soon to Gateshead.Although she once has told Mrs.Reed that she never wants to see her again, she forgets and forgives her.Jane‘s delicate feeling is best revealed when she meets Rochester, who is hurt.She gives him a hand in a polite way.In spite of his rude rejection, she says, ―I can not think of leaving you, sir, at so late an hour, in this solitary lane, till I see you are fit to mount your horses.‖(Bronte, 2002:173)
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struggling for independence and true love.She dares to say ―no‖ to anyone, including her master, Mr.Rochester who is domineering and arrogant.When she talks with Mr.Rochester, she doesn‘t avoid saying what she thinks whether Mr.Rochester is happy or not.On the wedding between Jane and Rochester, Jane is told that Rochester has married before.Bertha Mason, a mad woman is his wife who has been living in Thornfield.At the bad news, Jane knows if she lives with him, she will fall into the category of mistress and lose her respect.The dream of freedom, happiness and the independence which she was looking forward to would become fancies.The strength of reason is power over emotion.Jane leaves Thornfield resolutely to meet unknown fate in the future.When she almost starves to death, St.John helps her.Jane‘s spirit of revolt is obviously expressed by her refusal of St.John‘s offer of marriage.Jane never changes her will to follow St.John.She thinks, ―If I join St.John, I abandon half myself, if I go to India, I go to premature death‖, ―if I do make the sacrifice he urges, I will make it absolutely: I will throw all on the altar—heart, vitals, the entire victim.‖(Bronte, 2002:642)Jane says to St.John, ―I scorn your idea of love.‖(Bronte, 2002:649)Jane dares to rebel against St.John‘s offer because she thinks they are equal.She has the right to rebel against him.This period is the perfection of Jane Eyre‘s rebellions.第13页
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Chapter Two Jane Eyre’s Pursuit of Independence and
Freedom
2.1 Jane begins to realize the importance of independence and freedom
Independence is the outstanding quality throughout the whole process of the novel.Jane Eyre is not pretty and her character is unique.She is maltreated by her cousins and aunt.One day, when Jane takes John‘s book to read, he beats her once more.John says that Jane has no business to take his books;―You have no business to take our books;you are a dependant, mama says, you have no money;your father left you none;you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen‘s children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mama‘s expense‖.(Bronte, 2002:7)When she fights against him severely, she is sent to Red Room.In the Red Room, she is frightened, but she keeps a clear mind that she realizes she needs to be saved from her blind fear of authority and be self-reliant.Her mind is in tumult, and all her heart in insurrection, her reason says ―unjust!I never compromise to them.I shall be independent.‖(Bronte, 2002:14)She hates Gateshead, hates everyone there.She hates Mrs.Reed who is a bad, hard-hearted woman.She treats her with miserable cruelty.Gateshead is a shelter for her, which teaches her a lot of things.Only when she is independent, can she be respected by others.After all, she is a little girl, it is hard for her to be economically independent.Therefore, she decides to be independent, self-sufficient in her mind.The Reeds are really mean to her and she thinks they suck.Of course, the feeling is mutual.Therefore, she is spared from the Reeds and is sent to a low budget orphan school called Lowood Institution.2.2 Jane gains strength from her teacher and her friend to achieve her independence
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At Lowood Institution, under the hypocritical Evangelicalism of the headmaster, Mr.Brocklehurst, she suffers further privation in the austere environment.The condition there is disgusting, but Jane doesn‘t submit to it.She gains her strength from her teacher and her fellow students to achieve her independence.Maria Temple, an independent woman, is the headmaster of the Institution.She is a responsible teacher, and kind to the students, even the low students.Consequently, she gains respect and popularity from the people around her.From Maria Temple, Jane learns that independence is a very important thing for everyone.In our modern society, it seems to be more important to be independent.Jane learns the importance of duty and self-control through the friendship with Helen.At the beginning, Jane has much sympathy for Helen.Because Helen doesn‘t dare to fight against the person who insults her.When Helen is to be flogged and to be asked to stand in the middle of a room that full of people.Jane thinks that Helen should turn against others when she is bullied;she should resist against Miss Scatcherd, and dislike Miss Scatcherd.From these we can see that Jane is not obedient to anyone if someone bullies her, she will do the same thing to others.As known to all, it is not violence that best overcomes hatred, nor vengeance that most certainly heals injury.And Jane learns these from Helen.Jane is deeply moved by Helen‘s actions and words.―Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it: it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what your fate to be required to bear‖.(Bronte, 2002:79)Then through the friendship with Helen, she learns to be self-control in a certain degree.―It is far better to endure patiently a smart which nobody feels but yourself, than to commit a hasty action whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you;and besides, the Bible bids us return good for evil‖.(Bronte, 2002:79)
Jane stays at Lowood for 8 years.She attempts to do well in all aspects.She makes rapid progress both in study and work.She becomes stronger than before in her heart.The idea of breaking out the conservative puritan life does not occur to her.She longs for a new form of life.So she gets a job by herself.第15页
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2.3 Jane develops her independence fully and learns the pleasure of it In order to lead a life of independence, Jane works as a governess at Thornfield Hall.She is looks down upon by the rich ladies of the fashionable society, but she never despises herself, she never feels herself inferior.She is satisfied with, and even proud of her honest, independent work.She loves Rochester who is in a large possession of fortune and in a high social position, but she never thinks of relying on these things.Once she immediately answers Rochester‘s question about what else she needs, by saying, ―Your regard: and if I give mine in return, that debt will be quit.‖(Bronte, 2002:424)This kind of independence is irrevocable out of her pure soul which hasn‘t been contaminated by the earthy care at all and represented the pure uprightness.When the happiness reaches the highest point where she is about to be the dreamy person‘s wife, Jane keeps a clear mind, protecting her independence and her personality.She refuses all the precious gifts that could have been owned as a fiancee and reminded Rochester again and again of the responsibility she should continue to fulfill as a governess.As Rochester‘s bride, she continues to be Adele‘s governess;when Rochester intends to give her a lot of jewelry and beautiful clothes, she refuses.Generally, beautiful clothes and jewelries are the favorite things to women.Jane thinks that real love is not based on money and jewelry.Her love doesn‘t mix with other strange ideas.In her opinion, self-respect, independence and equal rights are the fundamental elements of one‘s love.She doesn‘t want to be the slave of money, and she doesn‘t want to rely on others.They fall in deep love with each other.Rochester doesn‘t want Jane to go on working,he wishes Jane belongs to him and considers Jane as his property.Jane refuses his suggestion without any hesitation.In her opinion,if she loses her job, she must depend on Rochester to live,thus independence says goodbye to her.She doesn‘t want to be a thing of Rochester.At last, she decides to preserve her independence.With the news coming that Rochester‘s wife is still alive, Jane is driven back to her original status.It means that Jane is just a lover to him.By this time, there are two roads in front of her: One is to be the lover of Rochester.The other is away from
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Rochester to begin a new life.Actually, it‘s very sad for Jane to leave the place she liked, and the man she deeply loved.However, Jane is the unique!She is determined to leave Thornfield without any hesitation.As we know that nothing can succeed in confining her before her resistant spirit.The powerful shout of the born independent spirit from her heart remains her independence.The natural strength of independence overwhelms her, ―still indomitable was the reply—I care for myself.The more solitary, the more friendless, and the more unsustained I can be, the more I will respect myself.‖(Bronte, 2002:467)With Jane and Rochester‘s suffering the readers‘ compassion is also aroused besides the feeling of pity.There is no defying that the blood of independence is going through Jane‘s whole body from the day she was born.Fleeing from calamity solitarily, she does not hesitate all prices to maintain her own personality, dignity, and rebellions and independence is portrayed more perfect, and richer.Nowadays, as to women, we can‘t depend on men completely.We should earn money through our efforts, we must be independent, never be subsidiary to others.In order to get dignity, freedom and independence, she runs away.At the prerequisite of maintaining her own character she doesn‘t take the jewelry and clothes which Rochester gives her.Jane arrives at the desolate crossroads of whitcross and is reduced to begging for food.Fortunately, the Rivers siblings helped her.At Moor House, Jane learns the pleasure of self-sufficiency.She lives a happy life there.She develops great affection for the ladies, Diana and Mary, and they are really nice to her.Jane becomes spiritually stronger and more confident through the friendship with Diana and Mary.She doesn‘t want to live there for a long time.She intends to find a job to support herself, so St.John finds a job for her to teach at the local school.While teaching, she gains more social respect, and her students make progress quickly.Furthermore, the students and their parents like her very much.She is very happy and satisfied with her own conditions.As a teacher, her students‘ progress and popularity are the best gifts to her.第17页
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Chapter Three
Jane Eyre’s Attitude Towards Love
3.1 True love should be based on equality and mutual understanding From the strong ego and independent personality, Jane seeks for love which should be based on mutual understanding, equality, respect and attraction.Jane is a governess, who has the profession with very low social position.Nearly no one looks up on it at that time.Being born of second class, Jane is sensitive about her position in society.She hopes that she can live with the same self-esteem as everyone in the upper class.She works very hard to be a good lady to reach the norm which is required by the upper class.Then she is eager to be admitted by the man who she loves, i.e.Rochester.Generally speaking, people are often satisfied with beloved one‘s compliment.As for Jane, things are the same.Rochester is one of the members of the upper class.Rochester is a rich gentleman with high social status and reputation.But Rochester falls in love with Jane, so does Jane.Jane doesn‘t pay much attention to the difference between their social positions, because she only admires and believes in marriage based on true love.Humble job and poverty cannot stop her loving an upper class gentleman.On this point, she shows a woman's extra strength to take a risky love with Rochester and keeps her self-esteem.She respects the mutual equality of personality.Jane‘s viewpoint shows she has clear self-awake sense of love.As a woman living in the society unequal between men and women, Jane doesn‘t follow the outmoded conventions.She believes men and women are equal even if not in property, but in personality.When Rochester tells Jane that he is going to marry Miss Ingram and he insists that Jane must stay at Thornfield.Jane is angry at it.Let us see how Jane retorts to Rochester‘s teasing.―I tell you I must go!‖ ―Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?––a machine without feelings? And I can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from
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my lips? Do you think I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? In fact you think wrong!––I have as much soul as you, and full 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.I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;it is my spirit that addressed your spirit;just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God‘s feet, equal,—as we are!‖(Bronte, 2002:396)Rochester understands fully and esteems her.Jane still maintains self-control and clear-headed when she becomes Rochester‘s fiancée.She wants to protect her honor and independence.When Rochester buys diamond necklace, bracelet, ring, etc., which means to bind her, she refuses those gifts and reminds her, ―I shall continue to act as Adele‘s governess;by that I shall earn my board and lodging, and thirty pounds a year besides.‖(Bronte, 2002:423)Thus she is such a person who regards her dignity sacredly and inviolably.Jane seeks for happiness and love, but she doesn‘t think love is supreme.She can throw away traditions to follow love, but she will never sacrifice her dignity and independence for the reason of love.Obtaining equality in life is Jane's ambition.It is equality that makes her love Rochester with all of her heart and soul;also it is equality that makes her leave Rochester with her disappointment and distress.Life is hard to Jane.On their wedding day, a secret is exposed that Rochester has a mad wife locked for several years, and then Jane resolutely gives up Rochester and is determined not to be a mistress.Jane's ambition, of course, forbids her to accept the unequal position of being the mistress of someone‘s husband.She has her self-respect and must keep her nobility.Being an illegal mistress benefits her nothing but reduces her virtue and demoralizes her personality.Then she would have to depend on Rochester and lose her quality, independence and freedom.So she chooses the distress of leaving Rochester to realize her pursuit.3.2 The marriage pursued by women must be based on true love At that time, women were first customarily dependent on their parents then upon
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husbands.Their parents tried their best to choose good husbands for their daughters.The choices of husbands and fates were determined by men‘s social positions and properties, rather than personalities and sincere emotions.Usually, women‘s rational consideration triumphed over their personal interests.A problem raises in the novel is the position of a woman in society.Jane Eyre, the heroine of the novel, maintains that women should have equal rights with men.When she decides to leave her love, she is very sad.But Jane will feel unpeaceful if she does not leave and stays with Rochester as a lover.And she would not be her cousin‘s wife without love.It is very easy to choose one‘s own love in today‘s England.But it is not so easy to do it in the 18th and 19th century England.Jane thinks that it is a glorious thing to have the hope of living with him and being his wife.Jane loves him with her whole heart.They have a meeting of the mind.But in that social background, people pay too much attention to property, rank and status.If the disparity is great, a pair of lovers would suffer disagreement with their families and their friends.Mrs.Fairfax, one of Rochester‘s servants, is very surprised and feels puzzled that her master is madly clinging to Jane.In their opinion, Blanche Ingram, who is a typical representative of the rich class, is so beautifu1, rich and has the same high social position.She is regarded as Thornfield wife of Rochester in the future by most people.She is the ideal wife of Rochester.If Rochester marries Ingram, it is natura1.Because in that society,people‘s sense of love is on the basis of money.In their eyes,money is everything,money is marriage.For the sake of money they can marry anyone even though the husband or the wife is an idiot.So the marriage between Rochester and Ingram is fair and reasonable.In their opinion, Jane is an ordinary looking woman without wealth, so she can never match Rochester.But with the development of the plot,Miss Ingram is proven to be a loser.Rochester is deeply attracted by Jane and gives up Ingram.Jane defeats her though Jane has no property and beauty.Jane‘s plainness,poverty, position and disposition are contrasted to Ingram‘s obviously.Jane is kind,intelligent, sympathetic and thoughtful, while Ingram‘s minds is poor and hypocritica1.She has no sympathy at al1.She plans to
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marry Rochester only because of Rochester‘ s property,Ingram tries her best to fascinate Rochester again and again,unfortunately,she falls again and again.Jane is fully aware of it.She witnesses ―repeated failures‖.The party is the climax of the novel and the essence of the book.At the party,Jane‘s victory is complete.According to her beautiful personality and the strength of her noble spirit,Jane drives those aristocrats away from competitive stages.High position and great wealth shows by the noble class are put aside.Jane gets glorious victory.
The marriage pursued by women must be based on true love.She distains the money and hunt marriage, and looks down upon her artificial and hypocritical manners.The way she gets to know Rochester well is talking with him, observing him and getting agreements with him.She falls in love with Rochester not at the first sight but after a fairly long time of acquaintance.Before she completely knows Rochester Jane only takes him as the master and an object for talking.Every time she talks with him, her attitude to Rochester changes.Through communicating with each other by their minds, they gradually come to a harmony in spirit.Jane thinks, ―The ease of his manner freed me from painful restraint;the friendly frankness, correct as cordial,with which he heated me, drew me to him.I felt at times as if he were my relation rather than my master: yet he was imperious sometimes still;but 1 did not mind that.‖(Bronte, 2002:225)This is Jane's revelation of true feeling to Rochester.Only when Jane understands Rochester, can she appropriately analyse and accept Rochester‘s character.Understanding each other and getting harmonious in spirit,the solid base of their true love.Jane loves Rochester‘s value as a man, instead of his properties, social and family status.So, whether Rochester is a rich person in the upper-class society, or is afflicted with calamity and becomes totally-blinded disabled man;whether Jane is a poor and plain governess in Thornfield, or she becomes a rich heiress in one night.Nothing can change her steadfast love for Rochester.After leaving Rochester‘s home, Thornfield Hall, Jane walks and travels without any aim.She lives in hunger and cold.As she roams about a whit cross, she is nearly dead because she suffers terrible hardships.St.John helps her and saves her life.St
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青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸
John wants to marry Jane and takes her to India with him.Although he is a little merciful and handsome, he is also very harsh and arbitrary.He considers little of Jane‘s benefit.He does not respect her or give her selfless love.Jane says if she joins St John, she will abandon half herself and if she goes to India, she will go to premature death.Jane tells John that she does not believe in marriage without love, because she still loves Rochester deeply.Jane insists that true love should be based on equality, mutual understanding and respect.She knows that to marry such a stonehearted person is to become a tool of him to serve God, so she refuses John‘s proposal.She hears the voice of Rochester in her mind, then she comes back to look for Rochester.She learns that Thornfield Hall has been burnt down, and that Rochester, attempting vainly to save his mad wife from the fire, loses one of his hands, is blind in both eyes, and becomes a crippled man.Now Mr.Rochester is not as rich as he used to, and he is disabled.But Jane loves him more than ever.Jane decides to stay with him and look after him for all of her life.This pair of lovers comes together in the end.But in that society such a marriage is considered uncommon and untraditional.In their love affairs there exist various paradoxes and conflicts which linked equality.Through mutual understanding, they gain the love between them.Jane gets Rochester‘s love as well as equality.Their love is based on equal communication, equal understanding and equal spirit.As we know, Jane is deep in love with Mr.Rochester, but if love runs against independence and equality, she would rather choose the latter, though it would be a great sorrow for them two.The unfulfilled matrimonial ceremony, therefore, provides the reader a good chance to learn the good sense and shrewdness in making decisions.In the end, Jane‘s return to and union with Mr.Rochester(who is not only nearly blind but relieved from his mad wife,)helps the reader see her true love for Mr.Rochester and her willing sacrifice to restore their paradise.第22页
青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸
Conclusion
Jane Eyre is Charlotte Bronte‘s masterpiece;it is an autobiographical novel in a certain degree.Charlotte Bronte was so poor when she was young and she nearly could not feel her parents‘ love.In addition, she is not attractive and is very short, so all of these reflect her self-humiliation.She has a strong sense of self-esteem, and she often compensates for the self-humiliation by her self-esteem.She describes Jane Eyre, in fact, she writes herself.Jane Eyre is as common as Charlotte Bronte, and she keeps going after a kind of free, bright and beautiful life because of her self-esteem.The poetic, imaginative story of the love of a young governess for her married employer also has undoubted connections with Charlotte Bronte‘s experience in Brussels.It is an immediate success with both readers and most of the critics.Jane Eyre, the heroine of this novel, struggles to acquire her self-respect, independence, dignity and self-sufficiency at every stage of her life, both in struggling with social pressure, maltreatment, discrimination and in resisting against the temptation of passion.That the author describes her leading personalities in the novel, and highly praises her spirit against the oppression and social prejudice, her pursuit of the independent personality and the dignity, and her tenacious struggle for happy life is obviously aimed at revealing the call of the people of the lower class for respect and freedom, and further to awaken them to protest against the unfair society that kills humanity.And it‘s in this sense that Jane moves most readers as a kind and unique image in spite of her plainness, poverty and low position.In my opinion, the value of a woman does not lie in her looks, her dress, and any other things that have a powerful fascination to men‘s eyes, but in her nature, her mind, her character and her sentiment.This novel embodies the indomitable struggle of the laboring class who are awakening.The author, Charlotte Bronte calls for the equality between sexes, spiritual freedom and inviolable human dignity, showing her sympathy for the laboring class.第23页
青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸
Acknowledgements
Firstly, I would like to delicate my most sincere graduate to my supervisor Liu Xueyun, for his kindness and patience, unreserved help, respectable tolerance and his valuable suggestions.Without his meticulous proofreading and revision, my thesis would not be like what it is today.Secondly, I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the respectable professors and teachers who taught me the B.A.courses during my four-year undergraduate study, Professor Liu Shifa, Professor Jiang Xiping, Miss Shi Luan, Miss Tian Yan, Miss Jia Lihong and Miss An Mei etc.I have benefited a lot from their profound knowledge and wonderful lectures which are indispensable to the accomplishment of my thesis.Thirdly, my heart-felt thanks also go to my friends, especially Liang Qian, Zhang Qian, Yu Jing with whom I have shared the joy and frustration in pursuit of knowledge.In the end, my thanks go to my parents, without whose support I could not have accomplished my study.第24页
青岛理工大学琴岛学院毕业论文用纸
Bibliography
Bronte, Charlotte.Jane Eyre Edited with an Introduction by Smith, Margaret.London: Oxford University Press, 2002.Shorter, C.K.Charlotte Bronte and Her Circle.London, 1896.Ellison, Edith.A Study of Bronte’s Novels.Green Wood Press, 1991.Wu Weiren.History and Anthology of English Literature, 1988. 简同,《百部世界文学名著赏析》。北京:北京出版社,2001。李献民,译《简·爱》。呼和浩特:内蒙古人民出版社,2002。刘炳善,英国文学简史。上海:上海外语教育出版社,1981。田兆耀,《西方文学鉴赏》。北京:中国广播电视出版社,2002。杨静远,《勃朗特姐妹研究》。北京:中国社会科学出版社, 1983。杨岂深,《外国文学名著欣赏》。哈尔滨:黑龙江人民出版社, 1984。
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第三篇:《简爱》中的女权主义意识及对当代女性的启示
学科代码:050201
贵州师范大学求是学院
(本科)毕业论文
《简爱》中的女权主义意识及对当代女
性的启示
The Feminism Consciousness in Jane Eyre and the Enlightenment for modern women
系
别:外语系 专
业:英语教育 班
级:2010级4班 学
号:102014040010 学生姓名: 指导教师:
完成时间:2014 年 3月
独 创 性 声 明
本人郑重声明:所呈交的题为《简爱》中的女性主义意识及对当代女性的启示的毕业论文是本人在指导老师指导下取得的研究成果。除了文中特别加以注释和致谢的地方外,论文中不包含其他已经发表的研究成果。与本研究相关的所有人所作出的任何贡献均已在论文中作出了明确的说明并表示了谢意。
学生签名:
年 月 日
授权声明
本人完全了解许贵州师范大学求是学院有关保留、使用本科生毕业论文的规定,即:有权保留并向国家有关部门或机构送交毕业论文的复印件和磁盘,允许毕业论文被查阅和借阅。本人授权许贵州师范大学求是学院可以将毕业论文《简爱》中的女性主义意识及对当代女性的启示全部或部分内容编入有关数据库进行检索,可以采用影印、缩印或扫描等复制手段保存、汇编论文。
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年 月 日
《简爱》中的女权主义意识及对现代女
性的启示
摘 要:《简·爱》是现实主义时期著名的女作家夏洛蒂·勃朗特的代表作品,她被认为是一位卓越的女作家。因为她在小说中描述的是与传统不同的女主人公简·爱勇于追求自由、平等和独立的精神。它也是作者的自传体小说。小说通过对简·爱的性格进行剖析,证明了简·爱是一个标准的女权主义者。简·爱这个人物形象,博得读者的爱怜,在英国文学史上是位具有代表性的人物,不仅表现在外表的朴实无华,而且还表现在她性格上的独特魅力。简·爱因其性格中所具有的强烈反抗意识而特别地引人注目。她坚持自己的原则去不断反抗不公平的社会。她用尽全力去追求自由,平等,独立和真爱。经过坚持不懈的努力她最终获得自尊,自由和真爱。
关键词:女权;反叛;独立;平等;真爱
Abstract:Jane Eyre is the most famous work of Charlotte Bronte, who is considered as an extraordinary woman novelist.Because the novel throbs with the heart-beats of its author, both literary critics and the readers have taken great interest in its unconventional heroine Jane Eyre, whose unconventionality is shown in the heroine’s pursuit of liberty, equality and independence.It is an autobiographical novel in a certain degree.This essay attempts to prove Jane is a real feminist through the analysis of her personality.Jane Eyre is a typical and magnificent representative in English literature, not only for her plain but famous appearance but also for her character’s outstanding and alien.The image of Jane Eyre is brilliant for her rebellious character.She always insists on her principle to rebel and fight against the unjust world bravely.She still tries her best to pursue freedom, equality, independence and true love.By unremitting efforts she finally gets dignity, freedom and
true love.Key words:
Feminist;Rebel;Independence;Equality;True love
目 录
前 言 ·······················
一、作者女权主义思想的产生 ·························································
二、《简爱》中女权主义思想 ··························································
(一)自尊心、自信心、反抗精神 ·······························································
(二)简爱的爱情观 ·······················································································
(三)简爱的独立性 ·······················································································
三、《简爱》中女权主义反抗意识 ···················································
(一)为生存而战 ···························································································
(二)为获得认同和尊严而战 ·······································································
(三)为独立平等而战 ···················································································
四、简爱的女性意识对现代女性的启示 ·········································
五、结语 ····························································································参考文献 ··························································································致谢 ·································································································
I
前 言
当今社会,女权主义受到越来越多人的重视,女权主义泛指妇女要求平等权利的社会思潮。又称男女平权主义、男女平等主义。女权主义是近代资产阶级启蒙思想运动和妇女解放运动的产物,提倡妇女在人类生活所有领域与男子具有同等权利。女权主义具有广泛的文化内涵,涉及政治、经济、法律、教育、宗教、伦理等领域。
在19世纪的英国,一位批评现实主义的文学女作家夏洛蒂·勃朗特写出了一部代表女性主义思想的小说—《简·爱》。这部小说是夏洛蒂·勃朗特“诗意的生平写照”。书中的主人公简·爱是一个心地纯洁、善于思考的女性。她生活在社会底层,受尽磨难,但她有倔强的性格和勇于追求平等幸福的精神。这部小说以浓郁抒情的笔法和深刻细腻的心理描写,引人入胜地展示了男女主人公曲折起伏的爱情经历,歌颂了摆脱一切旧习俗和偏见,扎根于相互理解、相互尊重的基础之上的深挚爱情,具有强烈的震撼心灵的艺术力量。它最为成功之处在于塑造了一个敢于反抗,敢于争取自由和平等地位的妇女形象。
一、作者女权主义思想的产生
所谓女权主义,归结起来就是:在全人类实现男女平等。它是女性观察、审视任何事物的思想与主张,是一种基于反父权制政治利益的结盟,是一种具有特殊政治目标中女性思维方式、行为方式的总和。
夏洛蒂·勃朗特(Charlotte Bronte)1816年生于英国北部的一个乡村牧师家庭。她所生活的的三十年间正是英国社会动荡的时代。资本主义正在发展并越来越暴露它内在的缺陷;劳资之间矛盾尖锐化;失业工人的贫困;大量的童工被残酷地折磨至死。社会和时代的不幸已经让这位女作家的家庭穷困潦倒,家庭的不幸更是让她陷入巨大的困境当中。母亲早逝,八岁的夏洛蒂被送进一所专收神职人员孤女的慈善性机构。在那里生活条件极其恶劣,她的两个姐姐玛丽亚和伊丽莎白因染上肺病而先后死去。于是夏洛蒂和妹妹艾米莉回到家乡,在荒凉的约克郡山区度过了童年。15岁时她进了伍勒小姐办的学校读书,几年后又在这个学校当教师。后来她曾作家庭教师,但因不能忍受贵妇人、阔小姐对家庭教师的歧视和刻薄,放弃了家庭教师的谋生之路。她曾打算自办学校,为此她在姨母的资助下与艾米莉一起去意大利进修法语和德语。然
到相爱的过程当中,简爱的那种叛逆精神、自强自尊的品质深深地征服了罗切斯特,而罗切斯特的优雅风度和渊博知识同样也征服了简爱。
简爱与罗切斯特的婚姻变故促使她离开了桑菲尔德府,离开了她心爱的罗切斯特。经过了寒冷饥饿的折磨无家可归的简爱终于进了她的人生的又一个驿站—圣约翰家。对于亲情的十分看重当她从叔叔那里继承了两万英镑的遗产时,她毫不犹豫地决定和她的三个表哥、表姐平分这份遗产。可见在简爱的眼中钱尽管很重要,但是比起亲情来就显得微不足道了。这与当时一切以钱为中心的人际关系形成了鲜明的对比。她认为“我不至于自私自利到不讲情义,不讲公道到不分是非,忘恩负义到不像人样”[2]。这是她对当时的金钱社会的有力抨击和尖锐的痛恨。
圣约翰是一个知识渊博,长相英俊的传教士。但是他不会享受生活的乐趣,整天到晚和时间挑战。他认为工作是高于一切的,甚至包括生命和爱情。圣约翰为了他的伟大事业到东方印度传教,他十分痛苦地压抑了这份欲望。简爱对于他的选择简直是不可思议,有爱却不敢爱,有了爱情却不敢追求。另一方面当圣约翰发觉,简爱是一个有见识、有才智的女子的时候,他就向简爱求婚了,不是因为他爱简爱,而是因为他知道,如果娶简爱为妻,对他的事业将是一个很大的帮助。这是多么自私的想法。
简爱和罗切斯特的心灵感应使他们走到了一块,尽管当简爱回到桑菲尔德府时她面对的是一个双眼已瞎,一只手已经残废的罗切斯特。但是,在简爱看来这些都是不重要的。只要罗切斯特爱她她也爱罗切斯特就已经足够了。她毅然与罗切斯特结婚,当起了罗切斯特的妻子和护士。两年以后命运垂青了,这么一对恩爱的夫妻他们有了自己的孩子。罗切斯特的一只眼睛也恢复了视力,他们过着幸福的生活。我们看到简爱经过了重重的波折以后终于实现了她向往的爱情—平等自由的爱情。而罗切斯特也找到了他梦寐以求的真爱。
(三)简爱的独立性
从小就成长在一个充满暴力的环境中的简·爱,经历了同龄人没有的遭遇。这些遭遇,使得简爱从小就向往平等、自由和爱,这些愿望在她后来的成长过程中表现无遗,在主人公的爱情观上表现得更为明显。
简·爱追求政治、经济、人格平等的新式爱情观,她不像其它女子一样爱上罗切斯特的财产,她是真心爱罗切斯特的,并且她一再强调平等。
生活。尽管如此,小简爱并不屈服 ,为了维护自己的尊严 , 为了捍卫自我独立的人格 , 她奋起反抗 , 开始与舅妈和表哥作斗争。她终于早熟起来并且化作了一种短暂的力量来摆脱难以忍受的压迫。在可恶的的舅妈面前小简爱没有屈服让步 , 没有在绝望中放弃,相反 , 对于简·爱来说 , 舅妈家好像是培养她坚强性格的沃土 , 反抗在她的思想中扎下了根。她意识到“片刻的反抗已经难免给我招来异想天开的惩罚 , 于是我像任何一个反抗的奴隶一样 , 在绝望中下了个决定 , 要反抗底”[5]。就是这样她开始有了为生存而战的勇气。
简爱经常被表哥打,一开始她尽可能地忍受着被打的痛苦,习惯性地屈从于约翰。“习惯了约翰的辱骂,我从来没有回答的意思,我所关心的是怎样承受辱骂带来的打击”。[9] 由于小简爱毫无理由地被训斥和毒打,她终于反抗起来。这种无法忍受的痛苦超越了她的恐惧心理,给予她无穷无尽的力量。所以她痛骂道“你这男孩子又恶毒又残忍!简直像个杀人犯—你像虐待奴隶的监工头—你像罗马的皇帝!”[6] 毫无疑问这场革命导致了更严重的惩罚。她被舅妈关进了
红房子,成了“古怪的小家伙”有着“苍白的脸庞、胳膊”和“明亮的恐惧的双眼”“像一个真正的幽灵”。[2]
约翰的暴力行为,姐姐的漠不关心,舅母的厌恶还有仆人的偏见。这些不公平的行为使她开始意识到忍受是没用的,为了维护作为人自身的权利,她开始公然反抗一切不公正的现实。简爱心中一直指责瑞德夫人,而一想到自由,胜利,灵魂便感到无比惊喜。她认为凭借自己的口才有能力挑战瑞德夫人的权威,在内心深处,小简爱知道她在为平等生存的权利而活着。
(二)为获得认同和尊严而战
简爱在被家人认为是“坏孩子”赶出来之后被送往孤儿院。(当时看来是慈善学校的一种)通常在这里小孩受到压迫和非人的虐待。她的视眼变得开阔了,性格中带着更加愤怒的火花。由此可见,简爱为获得认同和尊严而战在罗伍德学校渐渐发展起来。融科赫斯特先生是学校里最为贪婪虚伪的代表,对简爱的最初印象是像动物一样大大的鼻子,突出的门牙。他在学校惩罚人的责任称为拯救所谓的灵魂,他迫使学校所有的女孩剪掉头发,饥寒交迫,像奴隶一样对待她们,简爱也不例外。当简爱摔坏了凳子时受到公然惩罚。她被罚站在凳子上一个半小时,融科赫斯特先生不仅公然羞
在简爱的话语里,没有谦卑,没有顺从,不仅为自己也为所有长相平庸的女性呼唤平等。尽管深深地爱着罗切斯特,当发现他已有合法妻子时,简爱不知道如何是好。有两条路摆在她面前,一是简爱当他的前妻不存在继续呆在丝绒菲尔德庄园,如果这样她就能以情人的身份拥有更多地财富,但是违反了她追求平等的权利。或者简爱选择离开她深爱着的罗切斯特,尽管内心苦苦的挣扎着因为她知道爱一个人不一定要在一起。为了维护婚姻的平等,她拒绝当罗切斯特的情人,告别富有的生活,过着流浪的生活。简爱违背了当时的女性传统的世俗观念,强调男女之间的平等[7]。简爱挑战当时的男权社会,声称精神平等,地位平等,她批判不合理的阶级观念,同时她认为她与罗切斯特精神上是平等的,最终,在罗切斯特一无所有,且身变残疾时,她却选择回到他的身边。
四、简爱的女性意识对现代女性的启示
平凡的简·爱虽然相貌普通,出身卑微,然而却拥有一颗金子般善良的心。罗素曾说过:“在一切道德品质之中,善良的本性在世界上是最需要的。”善良如空气,没了它,我们的生活无法想象。简·爱的善良除了我们理解的同情心外,更有着超越于普通人之上的无私与宽恕。
在简·爱舅妈里德太太临终时,她陪在身边的那一幕感动了无数读者。从小说中,我们看到里德太太简直就是简·爱苦难的源头,随着收留她,疼爱她的舅舅里德先生的去世,冷酷无情,虚伪自私的里德太太把简·爱当作佣人一样对待,将她视为眼中钉肉中刺,处处刁难,对这个失去双亲的可怜孩子,不但不给予同情与关爱,反而处处苛责,纵容自己的孩子欺负。更可恨的是,她把简·爱送进了标榜惩罚肉体以拯救灵魂的人间地狱般的慈善学校里,并且在前来接简·爱的布鲁赫尔斯先生面前撒谎怒斥简爱是一个撒谎而讨厌的女孩子。可是,就是这样一个深深伤害过自己的人,简·爱原谅了。
当这位曾虐待过自己的舅妈临终时,在没人在身边的情况下,她去探望了她,并对她所受的巨大的痛苦产生了怜悯之情,她弯下腰吻了吻她,深情地叫了一声“舅妈,亲爱的舅妈”并妥善安排了她的后事。简·爱在此的表现,让每一位读者都看到了什么是宽容,什么是善良。马克·吐温曾说过:“紫罗兰把它的香气留在那踩扁了它的脚踝上,这就是宽恕。”
性的人格尊严看得高于一切。小说光明的结局告诉我们,人在追求爱情的过程中,也要有自由、尊严、平等。在当今社会,要将人的爱情观等于尊严加平等这道公式上。付之实现往往离不开金钱,人们都疯狂的为了金钱和地位而淹没爱情,在穷和富之间选择富,在爱与不爱之间选择不爱,很少有人会像简爱一样,为了爱情和人格抛弃所有。简爱展示给我们的是一种返璞归真化繁为简的感觉,是一种不计较得失的简化感情的简。它犹如一杯白开水,净化读者的心灵,同时引起读者特别是女性读者的共鸣。简爱这一形象变得高大而不同凡响,她闪现出的强烈的女性意识象暗夜中的火把,为广大妇女点燃了希望之光。这对当代女性自我意识的提高与觉醒有着重要意义。
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致 谢
大学生活一晃而过,回首走过的岁月,心中倍感充实,当我写完这篇毕业论文的时候,有一种如释重负的感觉,感慨良多。
首先诚挚的感谢我的论文指导老师郎玉珊老师。她在忙碌的教学工作中挤出时间来审查、修改我的论文。还有教过我的所有老师们,他们严谨细致、一丝不苟的作风一直是我学习的榜样;他们循循善诱的教导和不拘一格的思路给予我无尽的启迪。同时,也要感谢四年来年陪伴在我身边的同学、朋友,感谢他们为我提出的有益的建议和意见,有了他们的支持、鼓励和帮助,我才能充实的度过了四年的学习生活。
第四篇:简爱的女权主义思想试析
《简爱》的女权主义思想试析
内容摘要:
夏洛蒂在《简爱》中塑造的女主人公简爱,她敢爱敢恨、敢作敢当、反抗着社会的不公,追求者平等、自尊、自强,成为传统女性叛逆者的化身。简爱不幸的童年和学校寄宿生活一直被鄙视、嘲讽、毒打所包围,但是她没有被这些所吓到,反而激发起了她对这些丑陋人的嫉恨,她要反抗,要平等,要自尊。该文以结合夏洛蒂的经历及作品《简爱》的故事情节,浅析《简爱》中的女权主义思想。关键词:女权主义 爱情 男女平等 经济独立 自我价值
正文:
《简爱》是19世纪英国著名的现实主义作家夏洛蒂·勃朗特的成功之作,是一部真正意义上的女性文学作品。女权主义作为一种社会文化思潮在西方有着漫长的历史。艾略特·伍尔夫、西蒙·波夫瓦等都是著名的女权主义理论家。女权主义的核心是抗议男权社会对女性的奴役,强调女性应有和男性平等的权利和地位,呼吁女性不应受制于男性社会,应有其自身的价值。颠覆男权社会的不合理性,确立和提高女性的社会地位是女权主义奋斗的目标。
简爱以经济独立为基础,以自尊自爱为人生支柱,走了一条自己为自己铺就的人生道路,表现了强烈的自我意识,展现了女性的情感与自我。她从追求理想爱情开始,逐渐转向对男女平等地位的要求,再深入到对女性自我价值的认证与追求,彰显了强烈的女权主义思想。
一、夏洛蒂的女权主义思想首先表现在爱情的追求上。她反对传统的婚姻观,追求理想的爱情。传统的婚姻跟爱情大都没有太多的关系,妇女把嫁人当作衣食之计和终身经营的职业。财富和社会地位成为衡量婚姻的唯一标准,因此为了利益而结合的婚姻比比皆是,许多少女人生的唯一目标就是投机经营,攀上一门有利可图的亲事。无数的功利婚姻造就一对对怨偶。夏洛蒂通过切身感受和对当时社会现状的深刻理解,认为这是女性可悲的堕落,并对传统的婚姻给予强烈的鄙视。她提出婚姻应以爱情为基础,真正的爱情不取决于任何外在的条件,是男女双方心灵的契合和精神的交融。她把对两性之爱的理解上升到了精神追求的崇高层次,也表达了自己对心中理想爱情的渴求。
在小说中,简爱与罗切斯特的爱情没有落入传统的俗套。既不是男性对女性的征服,也不是女性对男性的诱惑。它超越了年龄、姿色、财富门第的世俗层次,是精神上的平等和相互吸引。简爱没有花容月貌,她矮小、瘦弱、低微,但她却凭借着卓异的人格力量发出灼灼光华,把美丽富有的贵族小姐逐出爱情竞技场,突显了内在美不可抗拒的力量。简从不把取悦男主人作为自己跨入上流社会的阶梯。面对罗切斯特的居高临下,她不卑不亢,从容大方,谈话中直言不讳,不察言观色迎合主人的意图,也不为讨好主人而作违心的回答。她深刻的思想和优秀的品格深深吸引了罗切斯特,并与之产生了强烈的思想共鸣。早年的罗切斯特是金钱婚姻的受害者,在情感上饱受挫折,曾在流浪中寻找安宁,在放荡中寻找快乐,结果只能是更加的空虚和绝望。简像一股清新的风,拂过他伤痕累累的心灵,简巨大的精神炬火和灵魂力量点燃了他的生命之烛,崇高和纯洁的情感在他心中复活与再生。对于简爱而言,吸引她的不是罗切斯特的财富和显赫门第,而是他的真诚、友好、坦率、放弃贵族偏见的平等作风和对金钱社会世俗观念的蔑视,与简在思想认识上高度的统一。
简坚信自己与罗切斯特的精神平等和相通,所以在追求幸福的道路上也表现出一往无前的勇气。她敢于蔑视英格拉姆小姐高贵美丽外表下的浅薄与低俗,勇敢地向罗切斯特说出“你娶了一个配不上你的人,我不相信你真正爱她”。她那句经典的人格宣言打动了无数的知识女性,“你以为我穷、低微、不美、矮小,我就没有灵魂吗?----我们站在上帝面前是平等的”。对爱情的追求发自内心的平等,并带有宗教般的虔诚。这虽然是她经历了痛苦的挣扎所发出的呐喊,但它的圣洁高尚足以让当时虚伪的世俗社会深深的震撼。在小说的结尾,一场大火,使得桑沧巨变,罗切斯特变得一贫如洗,又瞎又残,而此时已成为富家女的简爱却义无反顾的回到了他的身边。男女双方年龄的差距,地位的悬殊,甚至身体的缺陷,都被 高尚而深邃的感情所超越,被异乎寻常的心灵契合所升华了。
在人物塑造上,作者还突破了传统的艺术模式。简爱是英国小说史上第一位不借容貌赢得男性喜爱的女主人公,而罗切斯特既非英雄亦非完人,而是一位难看又有过放荡生活经历的人。在女权主义看来,出卖姿色的爱情是女性的拍卖,英雄崇拜的爱情是女性的臣服,只有精神和灵魂的两相呼应与吸引才是男女平等的真正爱情。可见夏洛蒂对爱情的见解已具有女权主义的高度。
二、夏洛蒂的女权主义思想 又表现在反对传统的角色定位,追求男女平等上。
夏洛蒂对女性问题的关注并未仅仅停留在爱情婚姻的基础上,而是转向更深一步的探索。
作者所处的时代是维多利亚时的英国。当时虽然实行了资产阶级民主改革,不少处于小资产阶级范畴的女性有幸受过文化教育,但妇女在社会上的地位并没有改善,远远没有获得平等的权利。女性还是很少参加社会工作,过着依附于男性的封闭式家庭生活。当时的文学作品中充斥着“家庭天使”一类的女性,她们温柔、顺从、美丽、勤劳,是当时的男性作家们按照自己意愿塑造的理想女性形象。这些作家们普遍认为女性受教育的目的是为了培养良好的妇德,家庭生活才是妇女最合适的天地。他们要求女性以侍奉男人、操持家务为己任,把自己全部的身心都奉献给自己的丈夫、孩子、及亲人。生活空间的狭小,精神上的空虚与压抑,使得“家庭天使”们已成为男子的附庸、家庭的奴隶、生育的工具。夏洛蒂以其自己的切身感受和敏锐的观察力关注着当时妇女的悲剧命运,大胆地对男权社会强加给女性的卑微定位以狠狠的回击。她有意拉大简爱与“家庭天使”之间的差距,出现在读者眼前的简爱既没有美丽的外表,也没有温顺的性情,而且个性极强,对社会充满了反叛的激情。她从不刻意装饰自己,甚至“还没有使女穿戴的一半那么漂亮。”当罗切斯特要用绸缎、花边、玫瑰、珠宝把她包装起来时,她提出了强烈的抗议。罗切斯特总想照自己的意愿把简打造成世人眼中的“美人”,试图培养简温柔顺从的“天使”美德。其实男性对女性服饰装扮的关注背后无非是男权社会对女性形象千古不变的追求,而男性对女性温顺性情的标榜则更能暴露他们希望助长女性性格中卑微特征的自私。因此追求平等的简爱大声疾呼:“我不是天使,我是我自己”,表达了她对男权社会最强烈的抗议。她不再承认传统女性的“美德”,不肯再扮演传统女性的角色,认为“女人一般被认为是极其安静的,可是女人也和男人一样有感觉,她们像她们的兄弟作学问时一样,需要运用她们的才能,需要一个努力的场地;她们受到过于严峻的束缚、过于绝对的停滞会感到痛苦。”女性不应该仅仅局限于家庭生活的狭小空间,安分守己的充当“家庭天使”。针对这一点,恩格斯也曾指出“只要妇女仍然被排斥在社会生产劳动之外,而且限于从事家庭的私人劳动,那么妇女的解放,妇女同男子的平等,现在与将来都是不可能的。”从小说对传统美的否定中,我们可以看到作者对内在美深刻而独道的认识。因为女性在未走出家庭之前,“花容月貌”是衡量其价值的唯一标准。只有女性走出家庭,从事社会工作,才华才能被体现,内在美才能得到充分发挥。女性也只有参与社会劳动,取得相应的报酬,才能够自食其力,才不会为了生存而屈附于男性。妇女的经济地位决定了她的社会地位,要实现男女平等的核心就是要实现经济的独立,这也恰恰是简苦苦坚守的原则。即使在她濒临死亡的时候,简也没有放弃这种意识,教师的职位一直是她经济独立的保障,桑菲尔德府是她经济独立意识体现最强烈的地方。面对成为庄园女主人后得到的丰厚物质财富,简依然坚持担任阿黛尔的家庭教师,用自己的酬劳换得自己的食宿费,自食其力得过着简朴的生活。简拒绝婚后被丈夫供养,不愿接受他对未来生活种种美好的设计。她认为心安理得的不劳而获,会使自己降至男性目光的海平面之下,失去了与丈夫平等的地位,所以任何物质的馈赠都使她烦恼。也正是因为简经济上的独立,所以她敢于向罗切斯特发出:“我们是平等的!”宣言。尽管在物质上他们一个贫穷,一个富有,但在社会心理上他们是两个相对独立的个体,他们经济自主,人格平等。在简爱的眼中,诚实劳动换来的面包永远要比不劳而获得来的香甜。
著名的女权主义理论家西蒙·波夫瓦在《第二性》中提出了一个重要观点,她认为“在社会历史中,男性处于主导和决定地位,女性处于被主导和被决定地位,关键在于女性经济不能自立,这是极其重要的原因”。女性要解放,“首先要完成女人经济地位的演变”。因为经济依附,女性只能封闭于家庭,而使女人注定成为附庸的祸根就在于她没有可能做任何事,所以摆脱低下的地位,就必须走经济独立的道路。“女性通过有报酬的职业可以极大地跨越同男性的距离,而女性要真正实现经济独立并不容易。女性必须踏上一条极为艰苦的道路。不过这又是一条最可靠的道路,每一种事物都在诱惑她走容易走的道路。”如果贪图安逸,女性就会堕入“附属”的生活。简爱的辛酸历程正说明了这一点,夏洛蒂的良苦用心也正在于此。小说对经济因素决定妇女社会地位的揭示,表明了作者为妇女解放,为争取与男性平等的地位所做出的努力。同时作者也为全天下受到不平等待遇的妇女指出了一条明确的出路,那就是:千千万万受过教育的女性只有像简爱一样自食其力,不依附他人,才能赢得社会的尊重和热爱,也才能实现真正的男女平等。从这层意义上讲,夏洛蒂无疑是女权主义者的先驱。
三、夏洛蒂的女权主义思想还表现在自我认证与自我价值追求上。
简爱对女性作为社会人的角色认证以及对自我价值的追求是在一次次地反抗中得以升华的。
小说在表现生存意义和价值取向上实际已经超出对“男女平等”的要求,而达到通过反抗来证实自我、维护自我、表现自我,从而实现人生价值的更高层次的思想境界。
简爱在幼年时代每天面对的是少爷的专横、小姐的无礼、夫人的厌恶、女仆的歧视,尽管她每天小心翼翼,循规蹈矩,但还总是无故挨打受骂。简觉得自己做为一个真真实实存在的人,却没有人顾及自己的感受,也没人为自己申张正义,为此她不顾一切的进行反击,为了要求公平合理的待遇。看似弱小的她在一次次非理性的、暴虐的、没有怜惜的威胁面前,经受了恐怖、憎恨、绝望,却依然坚强。在洛伍德学校,女学生们被强制剪掉长发,穿最粗、最丑陋的衣服,吃不饱、穿不暖,没有足够的休息时间,甚至受到非人的体罚。在这种恶劣的环境中,简没有屈服,也没有顺从,对于不公正的惩罚,表现的正气凛然、傲骨铮铮。并且,简通过自己的努力最终以无可挑剔的成绩成为该学校的一名教师,实现了自己的价值。
简爱的自强不息和蓬勃向上的生命力体现了生存的价值及生命的意义。简对教育事业的热爱说明了她对人生真谛的探索,除了精神平等和心灵契合的爱情外,还有对崇高事业的追求和对人生价值及意义的探索。她通过一系列的超越性的行动实现了她生存的价值。正如波夫瓦所阐述的“女性的真正解放应当也必将在女性通过超越性的行动实现她的真实的存在价值的基础上才能实现。”
四、夏洛蒂的女权主义思想还表现在她的思想局限性上。在20世纪80年代以后,《简爱》的反传统性受到质疑,更有一些女权主义批评家们认为《简爱》不仅没有对传统观念进行冲击,还顺从了传统文化,甚至是传统制度的维护者。
“知人论世”是文学研究的一贯方法。我们应从作家的生活时代和生活经历来整体把握作品,任何极端的定论都是不正确的。夏洛蒂由于身处的时代和环境的制约,肯定有其无法逾越的束缚和障碍。作者虽有对男权统治的不满和反抗,但毕竟接受的是男权文化的教育。因此叛逆与从俗的矛盾造成了她思想的局限。
首先,简爱始终存有精神平等和物质平等间的困惑,她主张精神平等,但对建立在精神平等上的爱情始终抱有疑虑,感到不安。她反对建立在世俗物质基础上爱情,但又不能释怀,所以无法快乐而幸福的拥抱爱情。简爱拒绝接受罗切斯特一切金银珠宝的馈赠,小心翼翼的维护着自己的尊严,不愿罗切斯特以“救世主”的姿态对待自己,觉得“像苏丹在充满幸福与温情的时刻赐给那些用金子和宝石抬高起来的奴隶时的微笑”。婚前的日子,她的情绪中透着不安、抵触,弥漫着淡淡的恐惧感,总怀疑是哪个地方出了问题,不相信这是真的,“像这样的命运会落在我的头上,那真是神话,真是幻想”。她还在不安中祈祷“要是我能有很小的一点儿独立财产,那将是一种安慰”。这些正说明了简对世俗的平等既敏感又在意。其次,简爱既坚持爱情至高无上,又屈从于传统法律条文对婚姻的定位,宁可牺牲自己的爱情,也不愿意向所谓的“法定婚姻”挑战,把名节看得比爱情更重要,暴露出其在男权文化里顺从的一面,也体现了她性格中的保守和对名份的过分重视。最后,要不是一场大火使疯女人葬身火海,为简爱与罗切斯特的结合扫清了障碍,那么简爱将永远无法超越心中名节观念的藩篱,与罗切斯特失之交臂,带着永远无法磨灭的痛苦,教书终其一生,至死仍念念不忘罗切斯特。这种下场,将与《廊桥遗梦》中的弗朗西斯卡有点类似。但弗朗西斯卡却有深爱自己的丈夫和一双儿女,她只是由于强烈的家庭责任而没有去寻找自己的真爱,在读者看来会觉得情有可原。人们不是批评弗朗西斯卡的传统与保守,相反的,是欣赏她崇高的家庭责任感和她身上体现的现代女性的坚强。弗朗西斯卡的故事是一曲爱情悲剧,但同时也是西方人重伦理、重家庭责任的写照,从某种意义上来说是值得称赞的。与弗朗西斯卡不同,简爱仅看到罗切斯特的疯太太就认定,她与罗切斯特不能相随,从而逃离的做法,则有点盲从于封建旧秩序,她在所谓的法律约束面前完全低头了。针对这点,韩敏中就对此作了批评:“这至高无上的原则其实只是英国改革离婚法之前现存的婚姻戒律,如果开始以反叛形象出现在小说中的简爱此刻成了不敢越雷池半步的守法公民,岂不大大降低了小说的力度?”
最后,简爱是一个有理想的女性。她一直追求自我价值的实现,她的教师生涯明显地从家庭走向了社会,具有鲜明的崇高事业追求的色彩。但她最终又回归了家庭,成了一个以侍奉残疾丈夫为职、对生活境遇心满意足的家庭妇女。她通过丈夫的存在而存在,这依然体现了她作为传统女性的精神归宿。由此看来,简爱对自身价值的追求仍然是茫然的,最终导致她没有逃脱男权文化的世俗巢穴。
从女权主义批评的角度来看,夏洛蒂的女权主义是不彻底的。简爱幸福的充当了“家庭天使”,并发表了著名的“天使”宣言:“我认为自己无比幸福,幸福的难以言传,我完全是我丈夫的生命,他也是我的生命„„”,她对爱情的渴求和对男性的依赖有着“小鸟依人”的非女性独立的意味。虽然她对男性超出了物质上的依赖,但在精神层面上却无法真正因为“自我”而存在。“经济因素在女性发展的演变过程中曾经是并且依旧是根本因素,但女性要想完全改变的命运,还必须摆脱爱情依附”。作者的时代局限造成了作者的目光不能够看得很远。由于夏洛蒂特殊的成长经历,她出生在牧师家庭,受到了严格的传统教育,并且所接触到的几个男性仅有父亲、兄弟和文学教师埃热,使得她对男性始终持有一种崇拜的思想。正像她自己所说:“倘若我有朝一日结婚,我对我的丈夫必须怀着崇拜的感情,且甘愿为他去死”。长期男权文化的影响,造就了她有着严重的男性崇拜,她认为女人最大的幸福源于家庭内部,女人一生似乎也只为爱情而生活,所以简爱的归宿也是作者心中的理想。从这点看,她思想的不彻底性也就不足为怪了。
夏洛蒂的女权主义思想尽管不够完善,但她所表达的对妇女解放的追求和向往,是具有积极和进步意义的,她是开女性解放浪潮的先锋人物,也为以后轰轰烈烈的女权主义运动提供了不尽的话题。
参考文献:
1、韩敏中《坐在窗台上的女人》,外国文学评论,1991年1期。
2、王珂《平权与霸权》,青海社会科学报2001年第6期。
3、高文斌《维多利亚时代女性文学的范本》,四川外语学院学报2002年1期。
4、[英]夏洛蒂·勃朗特著:《简爱》,凌雯译,浙江文艺出版社2003年版。
5、《圣经》,牛津大学剑桥大学联合出版社1981年版。
6、[英]玛丽·伊格尔顿著:《女权主义文学理论》,胡敏 陈映霞 林树明译,湖南文艺出版社1989年版。
7、[英]柯文垂·帕特摩尔著:《家里的天使》中国社科出版社1983年版。
8、[英]盖斯凯尔夫人著:《夏洛蒂·勃朗特传》,北京团结出版社2000年第1版。
9、[法]西蒙娜·波伏瓦著:《第二性》,桑竹影等译,湖南文艺出版社1986年版。
第五篇:浅谈简爱里的女权主义
浅谈《简·爱》里的女权主义
摘要:19世纪的英国,男权主义仍然占绝对主导,女人是弱者,男人发号施令,女人必须服从,此时萌生了不符社会普遍现象,具有反抗精神和不屈服于命运的女权主义。贫穷的家庭女教师简·爱是一个知识妇女,她敢于反抗压迫,执着地捍卫女权,追求平等、自由和真爱的精神,体现出了强烈的女性意识.她是一个无亲无故的孤儿,然而,也是一个独立的女性强者,成为了那个时代最具有代表性的全新的女性,实际上成了女权主义兴起的标志。关键词:抗挣;权利;女权主义 1理性的抗挣.(1)离开舅舅家去罗伍德寄宿制学校。幼年时的简.爱由于父母双双染病去世,简·爱被送到盖茨赫德庄园,寄居在舅舅家中。可雪上加霜的是盖茨赫德的原主人里德先生也过早的弃她而去。舅妈觉得她是一个“天性恶毒、想法卑劣、特别爱撒谎”的人,于是把她视作眼中钉,肉中刺,百般刁难。表弟约翰.里德蛮不讲理,咒骂和毒打犹如家常便饭。最终还把她关进了红房子,在这个舅舅逝去的房间里,简..·爱禁不住怀疑:“要是里德先生
还在的话,他一定会待我很好的”。肉体上的痛苦和心灵上的屈辱和恐惧,使得简开始对盖茨赫德绝望,从此放弃了习惯的忍受,开始反叛思考着挑战和抗争,最终选择去了罗伍德学校。..(2)离开桑菲尔德。在桑菲尔德,简找到了家的感觉,这里有慈祥热心的费尔法克斯太太,活泼可爱的阿黛勒,最重要的是有她深爱的罗彻斯特。她在这里安顿了下来,她改变了生活环境,开始了自我价值的肯定。在与罗切斯特相处的过程中,简.爱始终表现得不卑不亢、落落大方。说出了千古绝唱:“难道就因为我一贫如洗,默默无闻,长相平庸,个子瘦小,就没有灵魂,没有心了—..—你想错了,我的心灵跟你一样丰富,我的心胸一样充实!”简通过自己的人格魅力终于也赢得了这一生的至爱。但也许是天意弄人,正怀揣着幸福,站在结婚的殿堂上时,简知道了伯莎梅森的存在,原来自己拼命喜欢的却是一个已婚的人,虽然痛不欲生,但她还是选择了放弃渴望已久的唾手可得的爱情,悄悄离开了。
(3)从惠特克劳斯出走。
简·爱从桑菲尔德府出走后,在无人的莽莽荒原上疯狂的奔跑、一次一次的摔倒,面临着死神的威胁。正当简走投无路的时候,圣约翰收留了她,并得到他们一家的悉心照顾,使她心灵获得救赎,脱离心灵的苦海。简对圣约翰.里佛斯在心中充满了感激之情。可是偏偏圣约翰又是一个固执的基督徒,愿意牺牲自己的个人幸福,希望奉献自己的一生以成
就道义上的责任,所以当圣约翰向她求婚的时候,简毅然决然的拒绝了这位恩人。更让人惊讶的是简居然叛逆的选择了自己的真爱,重新回到生活几乎不能自理的一无所有的罗彻斯特身边。2反抗原因和结果 简一生不屈不挠的对女权、平等自由、独立自主的追求,以及由此而形成了自尊、自主、自立、自强、外柔内刚的性格特点。幼年的简寄居在舅妈家里,受到了蛮横不讲理的表哥的欺负,她反叛的说道:“我被你打倒,头还在痛,血还在流;你粗暴地打了我,没有人责备你;而我,为了叫你以后不再干出这种荒唐的暴行,却受到了众人的许多责难。就因为你是少主子,而我却只是一个寄人篱下的孤儿,尽管这不公平,在这个庄园里平等是不可能的了。”所以她毅然选择了离开。从此,顽强的反抗意识在她心中扎根了。残酷的现实让简过早的成熟了,她要开始寻求自己的出路,没有财富,没有权势,在没有其他选择的情况下选择了罗伍德学校,她追求女权主义的人生从此开始。
在罗伍德,当她的好友海伦被罚的时候,简.爱说:“我要是换了你,我就讨厌她;我就向她反抗;她要是用那个教鞭打我,我就把它从她手里夺过来,当着她的面把它折断。”此时,一个初来的她,却是如此的嫉恶如仇、勇敢无谓,坚决与恶势力抗挣到底,这无疑再一次证明了她单纯的对平等、公平的追求。
在桑菲尔德府,可以说简..·爱不屈的性格、完美的爱情理想、女权主义思想和人文主义达到空前的成熟。简.爱在人生旅途中,寻找幸福,追求爱情,同时也为争取平等和独立奋斗着,这是她爱情和幸福的立足点。当听到罗切斯特为了斩断情缘并打算把她送去爱尔兰时,简.爱愤怒了。与罗切斯特的那段对白已成为名篇佳句,被世人传颂:“你以为我会留下来。成为你觉得无足轻重的人吗?你以为我是一架自动机器吗?一架没有感情的机器吗?你以为因为我穷、低微、不美、矮小.我就没有灵魂没有心吗?你想错了!我的灵魂跟你的一样,我的心也跟你的完全一样!要是上帝赐予我一点美和一点财富,就要让你感到难以离开我。就象我现在难以离开你一样。我现在跟你说话,不是通过习俗、惯例,甚至不是通过凡人的肉体,而是我的精神在同你的精神说话,就象两个都经过了坟墓。我们站在上帝面前,是平等的—..—因为我们是平等的。”使我们看到一个女性可贵的自尊、自强、要求独立、平等的勇气和力量。当她意识到她只能成为罗切斯特的情人而不是妻子的时候,即使她明白,这意味着此生不需要劳累奔波就会过上所谓的轻松的上流社会的生活。可简..·爱还是毅然决然的选择了放弃,因为她明白这是一条很危险的路,这是和自己一直追求的平等的真正的爱是背道而驰。踏上去就意味着自己失去了尊严,违反了传统的美德,并且很有可能会失去罗切斯特的爱。简·爱追求幸福,向往幸福,希望获得爱情,但是所得到的这一切。决不是靠依附和从属,而是要做精神的主宰者,坚守女性那丰富、细腻、感性化的内心世界。女性觉醒后对爱情、对人生体验的自省意识,以一种震撼灵魂的形式体现了出来。用话语和行动捍卫着自己的尊严与独立,勇敢打破当时所面对的各种禁锢,追求自由真爱与独立平等。4结束语
在西方文学里,《圣经》记载,上帝从亚当身上取下一根助骨造了夏娃,并对女人说:“你必须恋慕你的丈夫,丈夫心须管辖你。”是干百年来男尊女卑的理论根源。在东方,孔子曾说:“唯女子与小人难养也。”男尊女卑的思想根深蒂固。女性要得到社会认同,就得遵守“.三纲五常”,按所设定的规则来生活。由此可见,尽管东西文化存在着差异,它们在对待女性地位上,却有许多相似之处——男尊女卑,女人是男人的从属。可是不在沉默中爆发就在沉默中爆发就在沉默中灭亡。简·爱的抗争之路步步维艰,她对女权、平等自由、独立自主的追求获得了男性世界的认可。她大胆无畏地反抗压迫女性的旧习俗和不合理的社会制度,要求男女人格平等,提倡女性要有独立自主的意识和被人尊重的人格,成为当时男性社会女权主义的象征。参考文献:
【1】《简..·爱》【M】夏洛蒂.勃朗特【著】,祝庆英【译】.上海: 上海译文出版社.1999 【2】《圣经》牛津大学剑桥大学联合出版.1981.
【3】论《简..·爱》中的女权主义[J].曾雪梅.寻求平衡.四川 外语学院学报,2000