《远大前程》中哈维仙与《被遗弃的韦瑟罗尔奶奶》中韦瑟罗尔的比较研究_英语论文

A Comparative Study of Miss Havisham and Ellen Weatherall

摘要

查尔斯·狄更斯是英国著名批判现实主义作家之一，一生创作丰厚，塑造了19世纪英国社会中形形式式的人物形象，《远大前程》是狄更斯晚年写就的一部教育小说，主题内容丰富，思想深刻。故事透过主人公匹普跌宕起伏的人生，表达了狄更斯对生命和人性的看法。小说中来自社会各阶层的人物众多，有来自社会底层但心地善良的乔，势力霸道的乔夫人，粗鲁却心存善良的逃犯马格韦契；有来自上流社会的令人生畏的贾格斯大律师，性情古怪的贵族小姐哈维仙，阴险邪恶的康培生等等。特别有意思的是，狄更斯成功地刻画了一个女性形象，复仇者哈维仙小姐。她出身贵族，富有且地位高贵，可是她还是没能逃脱男权社会对女性的压迫的命运，她的复仇、挣扎都是徒劳无益，自取灭亡。

凯瑟琳·安·波特是美国南方历史上以短篇小说见长的卓越女性作家。《被遗弃的韦瑟罗尔奶奶》是波特的经典作品。作者运用意识流创作手法，描绘了韦瑟罗尔临终时的心理活动，展现了奶奶一生的坎坷经历，塑造了一位善良、宽容、乐观、吃苦耐劳、倔强的老妇人形象。

哈维仙时代的英国和艾伦·韦瑟罗尔时代的美国都是父权制社会，男尊女卑思想盛行，哈维仙虽为贵族小姐，却仍没有任何地位，年轻时遭到未婚夫抛弃。韦瑟罗尔奶奶也有相似的人生经历，不过作为平常百姓，她忍辱负重，履行了一位母亲的职责。本课题借助西方女性主义文学批评理论来对比分析哈维仙和韦瑟罗尔两位女性人物，她们被抛弃后完全不同的人生态度，并挖掘导致她们不同人生的深层原因，揭示狄更斯和波特其真正的创作意图，即真诚待人和真诚待己。

关键词：狄更斯；波特；哈维仙小姐；艾伦·韦瑟罗尔；女性主义批评

Abstract

Charles Dickens is one of the famous critical realists of the UK, who created lots of works in his life time. And he has created many characters from all works of life in the nineteenth century. Great expectations is an educational novel with rich content and deep thought. By the story of Pip’s ups and downs, Dickens expresses his view on life and human nature. In the novel there are many characters. It is particularly interesting that he succeeds in portraying a female image, Miss Havisham, the avenger. Born in a rich family, Miss Havisham was a lady from a noble family. But she still could not escape the oppression of the patriarchal society. No matter how she struggled and revenged, she could not escape her tragic destiny.

Katherine Anne Porter is an outstanding female writer known for short stories in the literary history of the United States. “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”, one of her classics, shows the grandmother’s ups and downs by means of limited stream of consciousness. Through psychological activity of her dying moment, Porter created a good, tolerant, optimistic, hard-working and stubborn old woman.

Miss Havisham and Ellen Weatherall lived in a patriarchal society, and the ideology of male domination was prevailing. Although Miss Havisham was an aristocratic lady, she had no position in such a society; as she was abandoned by her fiancé at the wedding day. Ellen Weatherall had a similar experience, but as an ordinary person, she swallowed humiliation and fulfilled the responsibility of a mother. This thesis analyzes the two female characters in the perspective of Western feminist criticism. Abandoned, Miss Havisham and Ellen Weatherall took completely different attitudes towards life. After discussing the underlying causes that lead to their different fate, the present author reveals Dickens’ and Porter’s humanistic touch: honest to others and true to one self.

Key words: Dickens; Porter; Miss Havisham; Ellen Weatherall; feminist criticism

Contents

Acknowledgementsi

Abstract & Key words in Englishii

Abstract & Key words in Chineseiii

Introduction 1

1. Literature review 2

1.1 A brief introduction to feminist criticism 2

1.2 A general view of Dickens’ and Porter’s feminist tendency 3

2. Miss Havisham in Great Expectations and Ellen Weatherall in “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” 4

2.1 Miss Havisham’s revenge 4

2.2Ellen Weatherall’s jiltings 5

3. A comparative study of Miss Havisham and Ellen Weatherall 6

3.1 Similar personal experiences 6

3.1.1 Women abandoned by men 6

3.1.2 Sacrificial lambs of patriarchal society 8

3.2 Different attitudes and behaviors towards life 9

3.2.1 Post-jilting life styles 9

3.2.2 Intrinsic factors leading to their different fate .11

4. Dickens’ and Porter’s humanistic touch .12

4.1 Loyalty being the best policy .12

4.2 Importance of loyalty to one self 13

Conclusion 14

Notes 15

References 16