Female Images In Thomas Hardy's Novels

Hardy is one of the most outstanding writers in the post Victorian age in Britain.Being at the transitional period between the Victorian age and the 20^thcentury,His works not only have the mark of the traditional social culture of Victorian age on them,but embrace the spirit of modern time.The various women characters in Hardy's works are deemed as precious legacies in the literary history,providing reference value for study of Hardy's thoughts for their distinct characteristics and full images.On the basis of the theoretical frame of feminist criticism and former study achievement of Hardy's female images,this thesis has a careful analyze of the developmental process of Hardy's typical female characters and an excavation of the reasons for this transformation including elements of social background and the writer Hardy's own thoughts,in order to conclude Hardy's humanist and feminist thoughts based on these factors.This thesis categorized the developmental process of Hardy's female images into three stages.In the first stage,female characters get deserted by their lovers,sold as commodities or gets repelled by the society.The depiction of these obedient female images under male dominance expresses Hardy's deep sympathy for the vulnerable groups in the society and his anxious wish to help suffering women escape from the fetters imposed on them.The transformation to rebellious female images in the second stage is a representation of Hardy's progressive feminist thoughts motivated by feminist movements.These women gradually develop their rebellious character,supporting them to fight against male dominance and pursue freedom and equality,which turns out to break the stereotype of traditional women images and become revolutionary breakthrough in Hardy's works.However,they ultimately transform to restricted women in the third stage.Restrained by some deadly weakness of women nature and inevitable fate,these female characters are normally inaccessible to real freedom and happy ending in the works.Despite their efforts,it is not possible for them to escape the fate of dying young or being reduced to submissive“sheep”under male dominance.This pitiful result exposes Hardy's thorough understanding of the social reality of the late Victorian age and his prevailing obstinate patriarchal thoughts.The majority of female characters in Hardy's works are abundant in characteristics and dimensions.One single character may present periodical changes or composition of images owing to the change of her experiences and development of plots.Though not exactly identical,they mainly experience a developmental process following the trend“deserted-rebellious-restricted”.This transformation is not only a reflection of the social background,but also provides references for studies of Hardy's writing thoughts.The transformation to rebellious female images presents Hardy's longing and efforts to speak for women,while the ultimate transformation to restricted female images pitifully exposes Hardy's thorough understanding of the social reality of the late Victorian age and his prevailing obstinate patriarchal thoughts.