A Study On The Female Initiation Theme In Wives And Daughters

Lady Elizabeth Gaskell is one of the most outstanding female writers in theVictorian age. With an exquisite description of town life and a vivid portray of naturalscenery, her talent for writing has been fully demonstrated in her novels. Her worksmostly focus on women’s growth and development, among which “Wives andDaughters” is a typical female initiation novel, yet has not received wide attentionfrom the scholars who study initiation stories. This thesis attempts to analyze theheroine Molly’s growth in a provincial town under the Victorian background with theadoption of initiation story theory, archetype criticism theory and eco-feminism.Conclusions are drawn that this piece of work is a typical female initiation story; andthe heroine’s attachment to her father is due to her strong Electra complex, whichplays an important part in her development; her sisterhood with her lady friendsincluding her stepsister also works actively in the process. Besides, three death eventsgive her lessons for life and help her to become mature and strong. Through theheroine, the writer’s eco-feminist ideas are well-embodied, and so do her humaneconcerns for the female in the society. Mrs. Gaskell occupied an important position inthe history of English initiation story history.Seven parts constitute the main body of the thesis, with the first part as anintroduction to the writer and her works; research significance and thesis structure arealso included. Chapter two deals with literature reviews of both abroad and at home ofthe studies on her works and introductions to the research foundations. Chapter threepresents a brief introduction to the initiation story and its British tradition, followedby a demonstration that Wives and Daughters and the basic pattern of a femaleinitiation story corresponds. Chapter four is the analysis on the space in which she issurrounded, both the historical background and her living environment in the littletown which is close to nature. Chapter five focuses on the influential figures in theprotagonist’s growing who are her father, Mrs. Hamley, Lady Harriet, Cynthia andRoger. Chapter six manages the three important death events that happened in succession in her life which are her mother’s early death, Mrs. Hamley’s decease andOsborne Hamley’s untimely departure. Undergoing the three deaths makes MollyGibson growing step by step to be a kind and strong young woman. Chapter sevenserves as the conclusion part. Mrs. Gaskell’s eco-feminism consciousness iswell-presented in the work, in which nature and women are harmoniously bonded,and she had shown great concerns for female development.