淺析傲慢與偏見中的女性主義

AbstractChapter1IntroductionJaneAustenhasbeenanoutstandingEnglishnovelistsincetheearly1790s.Sheauthoredsixnovels,eachputintoamovie.Throughtranslationintomanylanguages,alltheselanguageshavebeenintroducedintotherestoftheworld.JaneAustenisatruecharacterpainterandshouldbeclassifiedwiththosewhoareclosesttoShakespeareinthisregard(Austin,2001).JaneAustenliveinSteventon,HampshireandshewasbornonDecember16,1775.HegrewupduringtheEnlightenment.HerfatherisownedbyDeanandSteventon,twoneighboringparishesinHampshire.Shehasahappyfamily,blessingandwisdomfromparents.In1782,JaneandhersisterreceivededucationinCooper.Austinhasnoformaleducation,butshelikestoread,andhehasgainedalotofknowledgefromthebook.ThereadinghabitsofthefamilyhadagreatimpactonAustin.Nomatterwhattypeofbookshelikestoread.SheisfluentinFrench,Italian,andhasalsoreadnovelsbyFieldingandRichardson.ShehasbrowsedalmostallthebooksofSpectatorandlovesDr.Johnson'sworkandGoldsmith'sBritishHistory.Inshort,Austin'sreadingcontributedgreatlytoherwriting.Austinissaidtohavebegunwritingbeforehewastwelve."Sheknowsthatwritingastoryisaveryinterestingthing.Althoughmanypeopleknowit,shethinksitisharmless,butdonotthinkaboutit"(Austin,2001,page42).Reasonandemotion,prideandprejudicearethefirsteditionsofhernovelsfrom1795to1797.Despiteseveralfailedattempts,hernovel,ReasonandEmotion,waspublishedforthefirsttime.Afewyearsbeforehisdeath，thisgavehermotivationtoreviseherearlyworkandrestartwritingafteranintervalofthreetofouryears.Theauthor'scharacteristicsareusuallyimportantforhiswork.JaneAusten'slifewasrelativelystable,withlittlechangeandnomajorcrisis.Duringtheincident,herlifewassimplybarren(Austin,2001).Sheisaveryattractivewoman.AnotherhighlightofAustinishiskeenobservation.Herlivingenvironmentandgrowingenvironmentareonlyrural,whichhasbecomealimitationofhercreation.Butsheisverycarefulandunderstandsthedetailsoflife,wecanalsoseethisinherworks.Austinwasdifferentfromotherwriters,whenwarwasthetimewhenGothicnovelsprevailed.ButAustindeliberatelyavoidedmakinganimpact,exaggeratingandoverdoingit.Sheisafamousfemalewriterandaveryoutstandingpainter.Sherunscountertothenoveltrendatthetime.Hermindisfocusedonhumancharacterandmotivation,Thereisnogreatpurpose,butthereistactfulsatireandanalysis.Herdadlikedtoreaditandrecommendedittothepublisher,buttheendresultwasnotsatisfactory.Shewasverydisappointed,sosheturnedtowritingnovels,namedPrideandPrejudice.Specifically,herpersonalroleliesbetweentheheroinewhopersuadesAnneandtheheroinewhoisarrogantandprejudiced(Southam,2002).Shevividlyportraysmanycharacters.Heramazinguseofsatireissurprising.Elizabeth'sindependence,self-confidence,andrationalitytestifytoAustin'sfeministtendencies.Next,IwilltakeCollinsasanexampletostudyfeminism.Collinsisatypicalmalefigureinthetext.Fromtheauthor'sdescriptionofhim,wecanalsoseetheauthor'sfeministtendencyfromtheside.Chapter2ResearchDesign2.1PurposeoftheresearchWiththeendoftheindustrialrevolution,theeconomicdevelopmentoftheWestisveryfastandwecanseethesocialandeconomicorganizationshavechanged.Atthesametime,theEnlightenmentandtheFeministMovementgraduallyemerged.Notonlywasrationalismaccepted,butfeminismwasgraduallyacceptedbythepublic.Inpatriarchalsociety,women'sconsciousnessisbeginningtoattractattention.Womenalsorecognizetheirownself-worthandarefreedfromoppressionandrebirth.Thousandsofyearsofhumancivilizationarealmostoccupiedbyamale-dominatedsocietythatusingmale’svision,ideasandprinciplestolooktheworld.Rousseauoncereferedthatthewoman’seducation,throughtheirlife,shouldbescheduledaccordingtotherelativerelationshipbetweenmen.Womenshouldmakemensatisfyandgivecontributiontomen,withtheirloveandshowtheirrespect,caterandtakecareofmen,anditistheirdutytomakemencomfortableandmakeman'slivessweetandhappy.InRousseau’book,itiseasiertofindthatwomenweredeeplycontrolandinfluencedbymenineveryaspect.Womendonothaveunattachedlife.Withtheadvancementofsocietyandtheriseoffeminism,manyfemalewritersbegantousewordstosatirizeandcriticizemalerule,expressdissatisfactionandinjustice.Attheendof18th,JaneAustenbecameaworld-famousBritishrealistliterarygiant.Inherwork,PrideandPrejudice,sheshapedtheimageofElizabethasaherowithgreatsuccessful.Elizabethhas

independentspiritandsheisnotaman'sfoilandvassal,norisitmaledesire.Theobjectistoshowahighdegreeofself-confidenceandindependence-sharplyrevealingthephenomenonofmenbeinginferiortowomeninBritishsocietyfromtheperspectiveofwomen,encouragingwoman’spursuitofequality,seekingwaystobetraythepatriarchalsocietyanddevelopingFemaleawareness.InPrideandPrejudice,JaneAusten,withheruniqueperspective,portrayingthesituationofBritishmaleesteemandhumilityinthatspecialtime.Sheventedherdissatisfactionandcritiquedmaledomination.Thisbookhasaprofoundimpact,thefuturegenerationsstillpraiseAustenforshedevotingherselftoadvancethefreeandequalgenderconsciousness.2.2SignificanceoftheresearchThisnovelpublishedin1813andwasJaneAusten‘searliestworks.Butforaquitelongtime,noonehasnoticedthisgiantbook.Somereviews,especiallytheoneslivingbefore20th,suggestedthereasonwastheworlddescribedinthenovelwassolimitedandtheauthordidnotshowthetrueandfull-scaleofeverydaylife.Till20thcentury,theideaoffeminismbegantodeveloprapidly,moreandmorecriticsfoundthisnovelcriticizingthesocietyandregardedAustinasarebelfeministwriter.Thethemeexposedthetruepositionofwomananddescribedthediscriminationandunfairwomenhadinthepatriarchalsociety.RebeccaWestbelievedJaneAustenhad“veryfeministconscious"andpraisedherintheprefaceofthenovel.Thediscussionwith"strongemotionsandboldideas"wassouniqueandimpressed.SomemalecriticshavecriticizedJane'sworkbecausesheistoofeminine.However,itisthisfeminineworkthatrejectstheprejudiceagainstwomeninpatriarchalsociety.Inthe18thcentury，MiltonandRousseaurepresentedastheman'sidolsanddeclaredwomanthattheyattractingmenbyusingtheircomplianceandimperfection.Theenlightenmentrationalitycontributedthedevelopmentoffeminist,buttheydonotrequirethechangeofwomen'sstatusinthelawandtheconstitution.Theyjustwanttouserationalargumentstorefutetheprejudiceofmen.JaneAusten'sPrideandPrejudicefullyshowsThesadlifeofthemiddleclassinoneperiodreflectedthetemperament,role,andstatusofwomenatthattime,andrevealedthephenomenonofmenbeinginferiortowomeninBritishsociety.Inthe18th-19thcentury,theeraofpatriarchalculturedominatingtheworldcanbesaidtobethereflectionoftheemergenceoffeministconsciousness,givingthefoundationofthelaterfeministmovement.Today,asfemaleculturedevelopsdeeperintotheworld,thestudyoffeminisminarroganceandprejudicestillhasthepracticalsignificanceof"gratitudeforthesourceofbenefit".2.3ResearchapproachesThisarticlewillexamineJaneAusten'sfeministtendencies.IwillanalyzeAustin'slifeandeducationalbackground.Onthebasisofstudyingtheanalysisathomeandabroad,IwillanalyzeCollins'characterstatusinthetext,reflectingtheuglinessofthemalesocietyfromtheside.ItfollowsthatAustinisafeminist.Chapter3IntroductiontoFeminismandApproachesofFeminist3.1DefinitionoffeminismEnlightenmentwasthebeginningoffeminism.Patriarchyhasaprofoundinfluenceontheworld.Fromtheperspectiveofmen,womenareverylow,theirvaluesareoftendestroyed.Womenwillbeoppressedandhurtindifferentdegreesineconomy,politicsandsociety.Theanalysisoffeminismshowsthatthereasonwhywomenareinaweakpositioninpatriarchalsocietyisculturalandeconomicfactors,notbiologicalfactors.Feministshavewarnedthatifwomenaretoliberatethemselves,theyshouldcontinuetoworkandchangetheirsituation.Frenchfeministssaythatmennotonlycontroltheireconomy,theirsourceoflife,butalsotheirpsychologyandthoughts.Inaddition,patriarchyplaysdifferentrolesindifferentcountries,racesandclasses.Feministshavealongwaytogo.Whatwomenshoulddoistoliberatethemselves.Feminismshouldalsoabsorbnewideasinotherfields.Feministtheoryappearedinthesecondclimaxofthefeministmovement.BeforeKateMiller,therewasnoformalfeministtheory.TheoriginoffeminismcomesfromVirginiaWoolf.Theintroductionoffeminismhelpstounderstandthepurposeandthoughtsoffeminists.Thefeministmethodhelpstoexplainliteraryworks,understandfeministthoughtsandunderstandhowpatriarchyisconcealed.Thisstudywillbecarriedoutfromtheperspectiveoffeministliterature.Feministtheoryappearedinthesecondclimaxofthefeministmovement.BeforeKateMiller,therewasnoformalfeministtheory.TheoriginoffeminismcomesfromVirginiaWoolf.Theintroductionoffeminismhelpstounderstandthepurposeandideasoffeminists.Thefeministmethodhelpsexplainliteraryworks,understandfeministideas,andunderstandhowthepatriarchyiscoveredup.Thisresearchwillbeconductedfromtheperspectiveoffeministliterature.3.2ResearchesonfeminismhomeandabroadAsweallknow,AustinhasmadeagreatcontributiontothehistoryofEnglishnovels.Manyliteraryloversliketostudyhisworksandlearnknowledgefromthem.Hercharmisnotonlyreflectedinherwritingstyle,butalsoinheruniquelifeexperienceandobviousfeministtendency.VirginiaWoolfcommentsonAusteninJaneAusten,sayingthatthereisnotragedyandheroisminherworks.Austen'screativethemesalsoinspiredher.JaneAustenlikestochoosedailythemes,partiesandpicnicsasherwritingthemesandmaterials.InAustin'slife,hehasalsoexperiencedmanysignificanthistoricalevents.Althoughshedidnotmakeanycommentsonthesetimes,wecaninferthatshemaybeaffectedbytheseevents.Allinall,Austindoesn'thaveaverybroadlifecircle,andhehaslittlechancetointegrateintothissociety.Therefore,shetendedtobefeministduetoherlifeexperienceandherobservationofhersurroundings,especiallytheobservationofwomen'slife.Chapter4：AnalysisofPrideandPrejudicefromthefeministperspective4.1MarriagesinPrideandPrejudice4.1.1CollinsandCharlotte’sMarriageThefirstpartdescribesCharlotteandCollins’marriage,whichisfortunateandnaturalcomparingwithnormalpairs.Thereisnoexpectationthattheywillgetmarried.Shehadahumbleparentwhowascommoninthesociety.Until26yearsold,shedidnothavemarriage.ButBennetthasfivedaughterswhoaregrowinguptogetmarried.Thesetwofamilieshavebeencompeting,whichisaverytroublesomethingintheeyesofvulgarwomen.Bennetthadatypicalwifewhohasfivedaughterswithnosons.Atthattime,itwasarulethatadaughtercouldnotdividethefamilyproperty.Iftherewasnoson,thenephewwouldinheritthefamilyproperty.Asaresult,Collins,Bennett'snephew,hastherighttoinheritthefamily'swealth.SoMrs.BennetwashopefulofCollins,thoughthisfamilydoesnothaverichproperty.Collinsisthewealthultimateownerandhehasagoodworkasapriest.Inthisway,Mrs.Bennetwasrelieved.Collinwenttohisuncle'shouseandwantedtobeBennett's.Hehasheardaboutthefivedaughters’futurearrangement.AlthoughhisauntaimedatplayingwithElizabethBennett,butElizabethBennettdislikeshim.Intheend,sheturnedhimdownwithsharpwords.ButCollinssoonfoundCharlotteandmovedbyhercomfort.Charlottewantedtohaveloveandregardedmarriageasaelegantactionthateveryeducatedgirlmustdo.Thentheyflashedoff.Effortlesslyestablishedamediocreloveandmediocremarriage.Thisisapracticalmarriagewithoutloveandhappy.4.1.2Lydia

and

Wickham’s

MarriageLydiaandWickhamisthenextmarriage.Atfirsthisfamilyandfriendswereverykindtohim.Buthehassignificantdebts,sohewantstopayhisdebtbymarriageandhealsowantstoberichandhasgoodsocialstatus.Hehasnoresponsibilityjustbecauseheisaman.Inhisview,loveisjustapastime.Inordertoturnhisideasintoreality,hebegantopursueLydiacrazily,becauseshewastooyoungandnaive,shelikedcomfortablelifeandhatedhardwork,anditwasherdreamtogettheloveandpraiseoftheboy.Theirparentsdidn'tallowthemtoloveeachother,sotheymanagedaelopement.Elizabethheardandthoughtthisisafalselove.ItwasnottheWickham’struewillingtogetmarriedwithLydia,LydiadidnothaveanycharmandhavenothingtoattractWickham.Hejustsatisfiedwithherrichfamily.WithDarcy'shelp,themarriagewasapproved.Ofcourse,Collinswasfairlyangrywhenheardaboutthisnews,hereactedtothemarriageinordertogetevenifhedidn'tproposetoherearlier.Thismarriagewithnohappinessfortheydonotknowtherealmeaningofmarriage,theonlythingtheywantistomakewishescometrue.Suchcouplesonlypursueexperience,notforever.Suchamarriagewillnotbehappybutforatragicend.4.1.3JaneandMr.Bingley’sMarriageJaneandMr.Bentley‘smarriageisoneoffourmarriages.BentleyhasasisterwholovesDarcyverymuch.BingleyandDarcyarefriends.HehopedthatBentleyandGeorginawouldbetogethersohecouldgetDarcy'slove,whichalsoreflectedherselfishness.ManypeoplefeelthatBenlitandJane'smarriageisideal.Ofcourse,thecoupleencounteredmanysetbacks,suchasmisunderstandingsofDarcyandBentley’sselfishsisters.Eventually,withthemisunderstandingbetweenElizabethandDarcyresolved,thelovermarried.4.1.4JaneandMr.Bingley’sMarriageOnlythefourthmarriageistheaimofarticle.ThisisthemarriageofDarcyandElizabeth.Atfirst,ElizabethrejectedDarcybecauseshedidnotlikehimorevendisdainhim.ElizabeththoughtDarcywastooproudandunreasonablebecausehewaswealthyandbelongstotheupperclass.begantochangequietly,cultivatehisowntasteandwantedtogetagoodopinionandloveforher.DuetoDarcy'sgoodeducationandperfectbehavior,Elizabethgraduallyeliminatedherprejudice.Andtheyfellinlovelittlebylittle.Intheend,whenElizabethsecondreceivetheDarcy'ssuitor,sheagreedtomarrythemwithouthesitateandenjoyahappyfamilylife.4.2InterpretingMrCollinsfromaFeministPerspective4.2.1Mr.Collins’attitudestowarddifferentstatusandpropertyMr.Collinsshowedafar-sightedattitudetowardstheBennettsandcanseemanyplotsshowthehisbehavior.Hebelievedthatifhecouldmarryoneofhisfivedaughters,itwouldbeagraceforBennets.Mr.Collinsconsidershimselfasthesavior,becauseifadaughtermarriedtoBennets,thedamagecausedbyinheritingLongbourncanbeoffset,moreover,otherdaughterswillnotbekickedoutandleavethehouse.ButElizabethrejectedMr.Collins'proposalandheractionhurtandconfusedMr.Collins.JaneAustendisruptedMr.Collins'plan,whichisalsotheconceptofapatriarchalsociety.Mr.Collinscouldn’tbelievehehadnotcompletedthesimplestplan,whichwastovisitBennets,checkhislegacyinadvance,andthenchoosehiswife.Atthesametime,Austindeliberatelyallowedhisrightstochoosehiswifewhowasviolatedagainandagain.JaneAustenviewsMr.Collinsasthegoalofapatriarchalsociety.4.2.2Mr.Collins’attitudetowardsmarriageMr.Collinsdidnotknowthemeaningofmarriage,hejustthoughtheshoulddoitjustlikeapastor,andthepatriarchalsocietymustlethimdoit.Hislovewasaconditionofchoosinghiswife,andCollinswastoldtofindagentle,kind,decentwomanwhocouldearnalittlemoney.Inshort,MrCollinshadtoliveinapatriarchalsociety,bothhislifeandhismarriage.ThemostinterestingoneisCollins'sproposal.Allhehadtodowasfollowherinstructions.Firstofall,helikesJanebecausesheisbeautifulandelegant.ButJanewillbeengagedsoon.Hisreactionwasnotdisappointingatall.ThenhiseyesfellonElizabeth,whowasnexttoJaneafterMrs.Bennet.Mr.Collinsexpressedhisso-calledfeelingstoElizabeth.Hewasverysurethathisrichlifeandhispastor'scareerwouldtouchElizabeth'sheart.However,Elizabethrejectedtheoffer.Ihavenochoicebuttorejectthem,"saidElizabeth(Austin,2008,P.125).AccordingtoMrCollins,it'scommonforwomentoturndowninvitationsfrommen.Thefemalecharacteristicinhisheartisgentleness.HethoughtthatElizabethwasquiteinlinewithhisrequest.Atthesametime,hehasbeenemphasizingthereasonforhismarriage,perhapsforfearthatElizabethisnotrationalenough.Inthepast,menweretherepresentativesofreason,whilewomenweretherepresentativesofsensibility.Elizabethranoutofthehouse,andMr.CollinsandMrs.Bennetcongratulatedeachother.TheyallthoughtthatElizabethdarednotrejecttherichagainstjustice.Inapatriarchalsociety,onlymencanchoosetheirwives,whilewomenhavenorighttochooseorevenrefuse.Forthem,women'sindependenceandrationalitydonotexist.Mr.CollinscannotleavelongbourneuntilhehascompletedhisworkandselectedtherightwifeappointedbyMrs.Catherine.MissLucasisoneofthewomenwithagoodmarriageeducation.Afterseveralconversations,MissLucasandMrCollinsdecidedtogetengaged.AlthoughMissLucasknewthatMr.Collinsmustbeneitherintelligentnorsatisfactory,sheunderstoodthatmarryinghimwastheonlyhonorableexampleforawell-educatedyoungwoman.Forthem,marriagemustbetheirhappiestwish,anditcanalsoputanendtogossip.Besides,MissLucasisnotrational.SheisnotlikeElizabeth.ButIthinkMr.Collinsisveryhappy.Atleasthehascompletedthetaskandcompliedwiththerequirementsofpatriarchy.FromCollins'sbehavior,wecanseethathewasdeeplyinfluencedbythepatriarchalconcept.Hedidn'thavelove,nomatterwhetherheproposedormarried,helackedaveryimportantpoint,thatislove.Asapriest,heshouldgetmarried.Marriageandwifearejustataskforhimtoaccomplish.Helivesinapatriarchalsociety.AustinalsorevealstheevilpatriarchalsocietythroughthedescriptionanddepictionofCollins.4.2.3Mr.Collins’rolesinthefamilyElizabethvisitsCollins.JaneAustenportrayedhismarriagethroughElizabeth'sobservationsthathiswholelifewasscatteredbytheMr.Collins'patriarchalthoughts.Mr.CollinsisveryimportantforhisfamilyandheisthewholeworldofMrs.Collins.Heplaysmultipleroles.First,hehasafirmandadequateincometosupporthisfamily.Mrs.Collinsadmittedsheearnsverylittle.SoMr.Collinscontrolthefamily’sfinancialmatters.Mrs.Collinswasjusttheattachment.Thisiscommoninpatriarchalsocieties.Menenjoyedthepowerintheareaofeconomic,politicalandsocial.Mr.Collins'financialstrengthmakesanotherrolepossible-makingdecisionsinhisfamily.Generallyspeaking,peoplewitheconomicpowerhavemoresay.Inthenovel,Mrs.CatherineinvitesCollinstohavedinnerandElizabethwasallowedtowearanydressshewants.InthisplotwecanfindMr.Collinswantedtoimposehisopinionsoneverythingandevenhavesomeexceptionsmustwithhispermits.Therefore,wealsocanimaginehowfrequentlyMr.CollinsinstructedMrs.Collins,makingMrs.Collinsdealwithdailylifewithoutherownopinions.Mendidnotwantwomentoenjoytheleadershipandrightsofmakingdecisionsliketheminthepatriarchalsociety.Mr.Collinsscarcelydoesotherfamily-relatedtasksexpectdecision-making.ElizabethobservesthatwhatMr.Collinshasdoneissometimes“workinginthegardenofhisownentertainmentplace,writing,readingorlookingoutofthewindowofhisstudy”.Heinsistedhisworkshouldincludepoliticalandsocialevents,nottohousing.Obviously,thedivisionoftheCollinsfamilyiscompletelydifferent.AccordingtoMr.Collins,thisdifferenceisthekeytomaintainthewholepatriarchalsocietyinorder.CharlottebecameMrs.Collinsbecauseofherabilitytobeanangelathome.InJaneAusten'stime,shedefinedwoman’sroleas"mother"and"wife"inthefamily,notclients,lawyersorpoliticians.Thismeansthatwomenmustdohousework.Asforthelabordivision,itisnotMr.Collins’swilltoseethebrokenofthepatriarchalsociety.Asatotallypatriarch,Mr.CollinsputsthewholefamilyinhiscontrolandignoresMrs.Collins’sanyfeelingsoropinions.Mr.Collinsseldomdoeshouseworkathome.Heisinchargeoffinance.Hehasahighplaceinthefamily.Inthepatriarchalsociety,women'sstatusisverylowandtheyhavebeenoppressedbydifferentlevels.Theycannotchangethestatusofmen.Oneofthegoalsoffeministsistoliberatewomen.JaneAustenrevealsthedominantpositionofmeninthematrimonialrelationshipinthepatriarchalsociety,reflectinghersympathyforwomen.Chapter5ConclusionFromtheworks,wecanseethatinBritainat