A Comparative Analysis Of Female Consciousness Between Emma And The Golden Cangue

With the constant exchange of Chinese and Western culture, female consciousness has a far-reaching impact in China. Jane Austen and Eileen Chang are the two representative women figures who can not be ignored in China and the West. They have their distinct female consciousness in their novels. By comparing Jane Austen's and Eileen Chang's female consciousness in different backgrounds, female consciousness in views of marriage and their heroines'female consciousness, this thesis analyzes the similarities and differences of the female consciousness between China and the West and explores its effect on post-feminism and the social significance. In today's seeming gender-equal society, there are many problems of inequality for women in employment, glorification, achievement, etc. This thesis makes people examine the value and status of women in the historical perspective, and arouses people to pay more attentions to women's world in order to let women realize their true values of life.This thesis consists of an introduction, the main body and a conclusion. Its main contents are as follows:The first part is the introduction. It makes a brief summary of Austen's and Eileen Chang's writing style and their achievements, and then explains the concept and theory of female consciousness. After that, the thesis makes a description of the previous research of this subject at home and abroad and points out the great significance and social values of this subject.The second part is the main body, which is made up of four chapters:Chapter I compares Jane Austen's and Eileen Chang's female consciousness deeply. This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section compares two writers'female consciousness in different backgrounds. At different times, in the different social and cultural environments, Austen and Eileen Chang have their own distinctive female consciousness. Austen believes that women have the ability and intelligence as much as men to pursue freedom and to play important roles in society; Eileen Chang thinks that the tragic fate of women comes not only from the outside world, but also comes from women themselves, so women should firstly liberate themselves. The second section compares the two writers'different female consciousness in views of marriage. Austen claims the love-based marriage. She thinks that it is necessary for women who are going to marry to consider the material interests; they should take their feelings and the equality of their own personality into account. Eileen Chang's attitudes to marriage are full of pessimistic color and the revelation of women's servile character.Chapter II analyzes Jane Austen's and Eileen Chang's heroines'female consciousness. This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section analyzes Emma's female consciousness in Emma. Emma believes that women's intelligence and ability never lose the male's. The second section analyzes Cao Qiqiao's female consciousness in the Golden Cangue. Cao Qiqiao shows her dissatisfaction towards the inequality under the social and traditional concept by the almost crazily revengeful acts.Chapter III concentrates on the similarities and differences of the female consciousness between China and the West. This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section describes the similarities of female consciousness between China and the West. Both of them believe that women should be independent economically and ideologically; and women should unite together against their unequal status and the tragic fate. The second section analyzes the differences of female consciousness between China and the West. The resistance form is different in China and the West. Women in the West usually take a positive way to resist, but women in China often carry out actions in a negative way. Besides, women's values are different between China and the West. Western women stress the realization of individual value, namely individualism. Chinese women emphasize the realization of collective interests, namely collectivism.Chapter IV focuses on the effects on post-feminist works and social significance of Jane Austen and Eileen Chang. This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section describes Jane Austen's influence on post-feminism and the social significance. To some extent, Austen changes the values in the history of English literature. Achievements and self-esteem are the core of female values. Austen is the pioneer of the British realistic novels. She claims that love and marriage should base on the mutual respect and equality. The second section describes Eileen Chang's influence on post-feminism and the social significance. Eileen Chang raises the important topic about the value for women: the dependent economy is the main reason that women are dependent on men and uncertain of their values. In Eileen Chang's view, only the male-centered culture is completely destroyed, can women realize their true bodies of flesh and blood. Each part is discussed separately from the angles of the value, tradition and the development of female consciousness.The last part is the conclusion, which makes a summary of the preceding critique, and points out the main purpose of this thesis. By an analysis of the female consciousness of the two writers and their works, the thesis makes readers have further understanding of female consciousness. According to this, the thesis explores the similarities and differences of female consciousness between China and the West. In today's society, gender inequality still exists, and women need to become independent on their own in order to pursue the true glorification. If contemporary men and women respect and help each other, there will be a harmonious atmosphere in the society and family.