Abstract

The Thorn Birds, as one of the many works of feminist literature emerged after the feminist movement, has an important position of Australia literature. There are many unique women in the book. Through the detailed description of Fiona, Mary, Meggie and Justine, McCullough shows the three female generations in the Cleary family who use different ways to keep their self-esteem when they face the same fate. Their fates reflects Australian women’s situation and they pay a huge price for pursuing their own liberation during 20th century. Besides, their different ideas about love, marriage and life and their continual growth can be regarded as the songs in the thorn. By introducing the development of feminism and The Thorn Birds, this paper illustrates the four women’s fates in the specific historical context and their resistance to traditional female fate to show their female images. Their struggles are like songs of birds in the thorn. The modern women are expected to learn a truth: the fate is in your hands. Living in the society where men and women are equal, women must be tough, independent, and stand on their own. They should strongly face the setbacks, and dare to fight for their own right to earn a better future.

Keywords: female image; feminist; resistance

摘要

作为女性主义运动之后涌现的文学作品之一,《荆棘鸟》在澳大利亚文学界有着重要地位。书中刻画了有许多个性鲜明的女性形象。通过对奥菲那，玛丽，梅吉和朱思婷的刻画，麦卡洛表现了克利里家族三代女性在相同的命运之中如何以不同的方式表现出对命运的抗争，真实地反映了20世纪初到中叶时，澳大利亚女性所处的境遇以及她们为追求的解放所付出的巨大代价，展示了她们对爱情、婚姻和生活的不同的想法和自身不断地成长, 歌唱了她们充满悲欢离合，不懈抗争的一生。本文通过对澳大利亚女权运动发展和《荆棘鸟》的介绍，阐述在特定的历史背景下，这四位女性对传统命运的抗争, 分析她们的女性形象和悲剧原因。这四位女性的抗争，犹如一曲曲荆棘之歌，向现代女性阐述了一个道理：我命由己不由人。身处于男女平等的社会，现代女性应学会独立自主，不屈不挠，坚强的面对生活的挫折，将自己的命运掌握在自己手中。

关键词：女性形象；女性主义；反抗