远离尘嚣中芭斯榭芭的女性主义形象英文版.doc

《远离尘嚣》中芭斯榭芭的女性主义形象

2016 年 5月 10日

Huaibei Normal University

On Bathsheba’s Image of Feminism in Far From the Madding Crowd

Written by
Wang Zhenzhen

Submitted to
the School of Foreign Studies
of Huaibei Normal University
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

Supervised by
Yuan Wei

May 2016

Abstract

Far from the Madding Crowd is regarded as a masterpiece of Thomas Hardy, one of the greatest English novelists and poets who lived across the 19th and 20th century. In this novel, Hardy clearly expresses his point of view towards feminist, which embodies in Bathsheba’s love and marriage.
The thesis interprets Far from the Madding Crowd from three aspects. It first analyses the appearance of new women, Bathsheba pursue independent identity. Also, she as independent economic foundation. So she choose to challenge the old tradition in patriarchal society. Then it .es to the return of old women. Although Bathsheba made great efforts, the old traditions is deeply rooted in society and in everyone’s hearts. As a result, Bathsheba chooses to yield to the patriarchal society. She married Oak, it also means she gave up her economic foundation and self-independence. Last, it tries to explores and concludes the awaken of Bathsheba’s feminist consciousness and in.pleteness. It analyzes from two perspectives, one is feminist embodies in Bathsheba’s life, the other is feminist embodies in her love and marriage.
Through interpreting Far from the Madding Crowd. We can know that women can not be totally independent in patriarchal society. But they will be successful sooner or later. We expect a society that women and men are equally treated. Only in such equal society, can they really show their advantages to build a human beautiful home.

Key Words: Far from the Madding Crowd; feminist; patriarchal society; equality

摘 要

《远离尘嚣》是托马斯哈代的代表作，哈代是英国最伟大的小说家和诗人之一，他的一生跨越了19世纪和20世纪。在这篇小说中，通过对女主人公芭斯榭芭的爱情和婚姻的描写，哈代向读者清楚地展示了他的女性主义思想。
论文从三个方面探讨了《远离尘嚣》，首先分析了新女性的出现，芭斯榭芭一直在追求自身独立，而且她拥有自己独立的经济基础，所以她选择向传统的父权制社会挑战。其次论文谈到旧女性的回归，虽然芭斯榭芭做出了很大的努力，但是传统的旧观念已经在社会上和人们的内心里深深扎根。最终，芭斯榭芭向父权制社会低头，她嫁给了奥克，这也意味这她放弃了经济基础和独立的自我意识。最后论文探讨和总结了芭斯榭芭女性意识的觉醒与不彻底性，分别从生活中所体现的女性主义和爱情和婚姻中所体现的女性主义这两个方面来探讨。
通过对《远离尘嚣》的解读，我们了解到在父权制社会下，女性不可能获得完全的独立，但是她们迟早会取得成功。我们期待一个男女平等的社会，因为只有生活在那样的社会中，男女才能充分发挥优势来共建人类美好家园。

关键词：《远离尘嚣》; 女性主义; 父权制社会; 平等

Contents

Abstract I
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Chapter 2 The Appearance of New Woman 3
2.1 The Pursuit of Women’s Identity 3
2.2 The Representation of Bathsheba’s Ability. 5
2.3 Bathsheba's Objection of Traditional Love and Marriage 6
Chapter 3 Return to the Stage of Traditional Women 8
3.1 The Loss of Economic Foundation 8
3.2 The Loss of Self-independence 9
Chapter 4 The Awaken of Feminist Consciousness and In.pleteness 10
4.1 The Reflection of Bathsheba's Feminism in Life 10
4.2 The Reflection of Bathsheba's Feminism in Love and Marriage..................................16
Chapter 5 Conclusion 12
Works Cited 19

Chapter 1 Introduction

Thomas Hardy, one of the greatest poet and outstanding writer who lived across the nineteenth century and twentieth century in Great Brithain. His creation of early and middle period is mainly novels. It inherited and developed the literary tradition of times. During his later years, he created the literary of the United Kingdom in twentieth century.
Thomas was born in a Hamlet in the parish of Stinsford to the east of Dorchester in Dorset, a village of Upper Bockhampton, located in southwestern England. His father is a stonemason who loves music.Both his father and mother attach great importance to Hardy’s cultural education. Hardy left school in 1956. And later on, he was apprenticed to a local architect. Hardy’s thesis about architecture has been awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects. And in despite of his works,
Hardy did not neglect his academics. Most of Hardy’s novels take place in the “partly-real,partly-dream” country of Wessex (name after the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom which existed in the area), his novel were called Wessex Novel, Hardy’s works reflect the profound changes in social economy, politics, morality and customs caused by the invasion of capitalism into the rural towns in Britain. In addition, it reflects the misfortunes of women especially. So it reveals the hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie. His works not only inherited the excellent tradition of the British critical realism, but also open up a road for the twentieth century of British literature.
Far from the Madding Crowd was created during 1970s. As Meng Huawen says:In Far From the Madding Crowd, Hardy portrayed a new woman character-Bathsheba who was a rebel of traditional values and conventional moral standards. It evoked enormous responses and provoked censures from people all walks of life in the society.”(Meng 23) In this period of England, with the development of feminist movement, women’s demand for equal political and economic status is getting higher and higher. However, at that time, men is still the center of the society. Women need to relay on men in economy. Also, they are in a weak position as to law. Patriarchal ideology, religious marriage system didn’t change with the development of economy.As for most women, marriage is regarded as a way to get wealth, not because they love each other.
This thesis intends to make an exploration of Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd. From the perspective of feminist. And the following parts will show a detailed analysis about Hardy’s feminist view embodies in Far from the Madding Crowd.

Chapter 2 The Appearance of New Woman

2.1 The Pursuit of Women’s Identity

Thomas Hardy is a great writer and poet who experienced two centuries. His works inherited excellent tradition of critical realism in 19th century. Also, it embodies British novel’s change from realism to modernist novels. Far from the Madding Crowd was about a .plicated love affairs between a woman and three men. This novel vividly portray British’s dark reality during late 19th century. It clearly shows the real situation of women in the Victorian times. At that time, Britain is a typical patriarchal society. It is a society that male-dominated. Both men and women regard women as weak group. In such society, women are often seen as a fragile, irrational group. They are always in a passive position. The only means that they can acquire happiness is “marriage”. After marriage, supporting their husband and raising the children be.e their duty. During the Victorian times which Hardy lives, it was filled with traditional concepts of women. Women are in a affiliated and unequal position. They were once regarded as the tools of giving birth. As a result, the free space towards women is their family. And women be.e slaves of the family. They were affiliated with men, and always in a passive position. A whole set of ideas about parents and women in patriarchal society is about the family rules without doubt. These so-called principles, such as ,pudicity, patience, sacrifice be.e standards to tell whether a woman is evil or good. Women who follow these principles are considered to be the perfect woman, the so-called angel.However, those women who violate these principles in an attempt to find freedom, individuality is named as evil. Finally, these women who seek independence and freedom will damaged by the cruel society. The fate of the heroine Bathsheba in the novel Far from the Madding Crowd proves this point effectively.
It is because women are educated by such principles that men are the greatest, they are only accessories of men. A large number of women gave up their independence and freedom. This kind of education make women depend on men to some extent. Women be.e attached to men. In their life, they must be graceful, decent to attract men. They even need to know how to flirt with men to keep and consolidate their secondary position. Such patriarchal society persecutes women. They have no space for living. In such society, women have no identity, no position, no freedom. They only concern about how to attract men and be.e their “profound wealth”.
In Far from the Madding Crowd, Bathsheba is a heroine who is vibrant, full of live, striving for independence and freedom. His first appearance in the novel reflect her pursuit of women’s unique identity. In Victorian times, women look in the mirror is only allowed in usual place and time, such as bedrooms and dressing time. If beyond this range, the act is considered to be inappropriate behavior. However, Bathsheba appeared with such inappropriate behavior. On a sunny morning, Bathsheba was sitting in a horse-drawn carriage. She took out the mirror and appreciate her youth and vigor. It seems that no one was here (only Gabriel Oak). She is so beautiful that she could not help to open her lips with radiant smile. Such sense of self-appreciation .es from her .plete independent consciousness. Bathsheba looking herself in the mirror. She regards herself as a beautiful work of nature. This fully embodies her approval of her identity and she is proud of her identity. But this kind of approval is based on her .plete and independent consciousness. Bathsheba neglect traditional customs in Victorian times. Her behavior of looking mirror embodies the tendency of pursuing freedom and independence.
Bathsheba is proud of her identity to be a woman. And she clearly knows that the female in Victorian times is only property of men. She refuse Oak’s proposal and the reason is that she didn’t want to be men’s property. She constantly stressed her female identity and try to prove that women is not weak. Therefore, when she took over her uncle’s farmland, she announced to people her decision, And the words when she left she said to the workers further proves her determination to transcend patriarchal society, pursue independence and gain respect from others.
Bathsheba constantly stress her female identity. And she warn people that she can manage farmland well regardless of her female identity. She is proud of being a lady and believe herself is the first among the women. She make up her mind to make an impact in such patriarchal society. She has active rich self-awareness. She has cultural knowledge, ingenuity. Bathsheba has unique thinking towards her life and she always think deeply towards various phenomenon in society.

2.2 The Representation of Bathsheba’s Ability.

In Victorian times, particularly in village. The definition of women is people who is diligent in housework and economy. And women is attached to her husband in life. furthermore, women’s career is only limited to tutors, news industry and service industry. Our society didn’t have platform for the female to realize their self-value and make further improvements. It not only deprived the right of women to receive education, but also denied their opportunity to exert their potentials and talents. Managing farmland is seen as a job for men. It is a magical thing for a woman to manage a farm where is predominantly male employees.
Bathsheba is intelligent and aggressive. She always pursue independence physically and mentally. She is smart and re solute. She do things with high efficiency. We can say that she is equipped with all unique qualities that men has. So she dare to took over her uncle’s farmland. And with her excellent performance,she gained professional recognition. Bathsheba deeply knows the importance of economical independence. Therefore, after took over her uncle’s farm, she swore that she must manage it in order. When she found the housekeeper stealing, she fired him resolutely. And she told all the workers seriously that she decided not to hire housekeepers. She will rely on her own minds and hands to manage everything. Despite his identity of estate manager, she was doubted by many people originally. But she soon shows her business talents in the grain market using her own calm and intelligence. She proves to men that she has ability to manage the farm well. Although when she appeared at the beginning, she is a little nervous. But she adapt to the rules of game quickly. Her behavior directly challenged the authority of men. And her performance is like an aggressive male entrepreneur.

2.3 Bathsheba’s Objection of Traditional Love and Marriage

As a women living in patriarchal society, she is supposed to be honest, obedient and sacrificed. She does not have right to choose love and marriage freely. Otherwise, she will be regarded as a hypercritical, dissolute woman. Their highest pursuit should be marriage and being a housewife. Sadly, as women in patriarchal society, most of them didn’t aware of these cruel oppression and irrationality. However, they enjoy it.
In her three suitors, the farmer, Gabriel Oak. He is hardworking and gentle. He is a good guy among all the people. But actually he is a spokesman of patriarchal society. He owns the patriarchal ideology, and he evaluates Bathsheba’s action. Even his proposal is very reckless. When he proposed to Bathsheba at the first time, Oak is still a farmer who owns his own farm. He thinks that such superior economic conditions is enough to make her to be his wife. Facing with Oak’s invasive proposal, Bathsheba subconsciously eludes him. He clearly told him that if she is married to a man, it seems that she has be.e the property of that man. Mr Boldwood is a local farmer. He is rich and popular. Most women can’t have chance to talk with him. However, facing with Mr. Bloodwood, who is more superior to Oak concerning status or assets. Bathsheba refused his proposal without hesitation. As Hardy wrote in the novel, if other people heard his proposal, they will accepted quickly and happily. And also they will proudly make other public known this thing. Everyone thinks no matter from which aspect she should marry the rich, sincere and respected man. As for Mr. Bloodwood, Bathsheba is just his property that he can show off. Bathsheba doesn’t have equal status and rights with him. Bathsheba is aware of this, so she rejected his proposal.
The third suitor to Bathsheba is Sergent Troy. He is a representative of modern capitalism from outside world. He is the villain of the piece. He is hypocritical, frivolous and dissolute. He seduced his maid Fannie Robin. And later, he abandoned her. At last Fannie was died in poorhouse. People in the farmland think Troy is a playboy, but it does not prevent Bathsheba’s love for Troy. She has her own unique aesthetic point of view. She think Troy was born in a good family and was well-educated. Troy is worth loving by any women. Finally, she married to Sergent Troy according