On Annie Proulx’s Ambivalent Feminist Consciousness In The Shipping News From Masculinity Perspective

The Shipping News is the representative work of contemporary American womanwriter Annie Proulx. This thesis explores Annie Proulx’s feminist consciousnessrepresented in the novel based on the analysis of the protagonists’ masculinities byemploying Reeser’s and Halberstam’s masculinities theories. On one hand, AnnieProulx has the feminist consciousness of criticizing the patriarchal ideology. On theother, her feminist consciousness is confined by traditional patriarchal ideology to acertain extent.Firstly, based on the analysis of the female protagonist’s masculinity by employingReeser’s and Halberstam’s theories on female masculinity, and the analysis of AnnieProulx’s purpose of molding such a female protagonist in addition, this thesis embarkson discussing Annie Proulx’s ambivalent view on female.Secondly, through analyzing the male protagonist’s masculinity crisis andmasculinity reconstruction, along with the analysis of the female protagonist’s influenceon him, this thesis focuses on the traditional ideology’s influence on Annie Proulx’srecognition of man and her rebellion to traditional ideology.Next, by interpreting the changing relationship of the protagonists on the basis ofReeser’s and Halberstam’s theory of masculinities’ shifting influence pattern, and theanalysis of the image that Annie Proulx employed in the novel to guide the reader toperceive her thinking, this thesis examines Annie Proulx’s view on genders relationship.Finally, from the analysis above, the thesis comes to its conclusion. The portrayalof the two protagonists influenced by masculinities conveys Annie Proulx ambivalentfeminist consciousness and demonstrates her view on genders and their relationship.Due to the history and society, Annie Proulx’s feminist consciousness is ambivalent.