论文2正文+文献 2.docx

1、论文2正文+文献 21. IntroductionGone with the Wind, an American novel by Margaret Mitchell, was published in 1936 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1937. The novel is one of the most popular of all time, selling more than 30 million copies. And an American film adaptation of the same name released in 1939 beca

2、me the highest-grossing film in the history of Hollywood and received a record-breaking number of Academy Awards. The story happens in 1861 and ends in 1871During the ten years，the South experiences a great change. In the novel, Mitchell illustrated the hardships that the Southern people live throug

3、h and describes how they conquer difficulties and rebuild their lives through the time of Civil WarIn Gone with the Wind, Mitchell successfully created some lively woman images which made a very deep impression on readers, such as Scarlett and Melanie. But how did Mitchell reveal feminism in Gone wi

4、th the Wind ? This thesis will analyze the reflection of feminist in this novel , mainly based on the analysis of two prominent female characters: Scarlett and Melanie. They, as the representatives of feminist , have their own claims and stand to their thoughts ,pursuing the autonomous rights and se

5、lf-consciousness. The body is made up of five big parts. Part1 gives a introduction of literature review about Gone with the Wind, including some early appraisals and contemporary researches. Part2 is about the author Margaret Mitchell and social conditions of her time. Part3 will analyze the reflec

6、tion of feminist in this novel , mainly based on the analysis of two prominent female characters: Scarlett and Melanie. Part4 will make a comparison between Scarlett and Melanie, and get their similarities and differences. Part5 is conclusion.2. Literature Review2.1 The definition and development of

7、 Feminism Feminism is closely related to womens struggle for social, political and economic equality between men and women, striving for eliminating all the barriers that prevents the liberation and development of the women. The term feminism first appeared in the 19th century in France and the Neth

8、erlands. Since then its meaning has been widely debated and people still often disagree about what it stands for. There are three stages in western feminism. The first significant feminist movement began in the late 19th century in the UK with the campaign for womens suffrage. Women gained the right

9、 to vote(if they were over the age of 30) in the 1918 in Britain. In the 1960s, a second wave of feminism erupted. People fought for issues such as access to birth control and equal pay. A third wave of feminism emerged in the early 1990s, as an attempt to rectify the movements perceived failures. T

10、oday, 71 percent of American and 58 percent of Britain women would not describe themselves as a feminist, according to a Cuardian article. The figure is expected to be lower for men, as historically there have been fewer men than women happy to identify themselves as feminists. Mitchell wrote a dist

11、inctly feminist novel. She sounds the note early with the narrators comment that “at no time, before or since, has so low a premium been placed on feminine naturalness,” and she mercilessly exposes a southern patriarchy that requires that women be flatteringly subservient to males, no matter how muc

12、h less intelligent and capable. 2.2 Literary review on Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind Was officially completed on January 22, 1936. By late 1965，Gone with the Wind had been sold more than 1 0,000,000 copies and had been translated into twentyfive languages in twentynine countriesThe film adap

13、tation of it，released in1939, became the highest-grossing film in the history of Hollywood. As a well-known novel, Gone with the Wind have been studied and analyzed by many critics. The following are some works about it.2.2.1 Some early appraisals of Gone with the Wind Some early appraisals of Gone

14、with the Wind noted its memorable characters and historical accuracy as well as Mitchells remarkable storytelling ability, though many other reviews dismissed the novel as melodramatic and triteFrom 1970s，the studies of the novel became diversified: text study, psychoanalysis, reception aesthetics，m

15、yth-arch-etypical criticism and cultural criticism are integrated2.2.2 Three aspects on contemporary researches of Gone with the Wind2.2.2.1 Research on the novels theme On one hand, the academic circle depreciate it；on the other hand, critics praise it. American Encyclopedia points out that Gone wi

16、th the Wind describes southerners as noble and unyielding people. While Many critics regard the novel as a song of the old South, such as 0Levitski and O.Dumers “Color Symbolism and Mythology in Margaret Mitchells Novel Gone with the Wind”, and Eaklor,Vicki Us Striking Chords and Touching Nerves：Myt

17、h and Gender Gone with the Wind2.2.2.2 Research on the main character It can be roughly divided into two kindsOn one side，Scarier is criticized as a rebellious，selfish woman with bad qualitiesOn the other side，Scarier is criticized as a courageous and independent heroine. For instance：Jonathan DAust

18、ins Pat Conroy：1 was raised by Scarlett OHara. Citing questionable moral choices，Eaklor maintains the inability to understand Scarletts character is at the heart of the dynamics of Gone with the Wind and responses to itFor example，Belle Rosenbaums 1937 essay calls Gone with the Wind an “obscenity” a

19、nd Scarier a harlot”(Li，2000：34)2.2.2.3. Research from feminist perspective For example：Elizabeth Foxs Scarlett OHara. The Southern Lady as New Woman, Claudia Ibm Pierponts A Study in Scarlett. In China,many critics discuss the female consciousness from the perspective of feminine criticismFor examp

20、le，Dong Jinweis “The Charm, Value and Characteristic of Gone with the Wind” confirms that Gone with the Wind is meaningful to womens liberation and analyses Scarletts pursuit of freedom and independence3. About Margaret Mitchell Margaret Mitchell, an American woman writer in the South, was born on N

21、ovember 8, 1900 in Atlanta, Georgia, where she lived all her life. Her mother was a suffragist, father a prominent lawyer and president of the Atlanta Historical Society. Mitchell grew up listening to stories about old Atlanta and the battles the confederate Army had fought there during the American

22、 Civil War. At the age of fifteen she wrote in her journal: “If I were a boy, I would try for West Point, if I could make it, or well Id be a prize fighter.” Mitchell graduated from the local Washington Seminary and started in 1918 to study medicine at Smith College. In her youth Mitchell adopted he

23、r mothers feminist leanings which clashed with her fathers conservatism, but she lived fully the Jazz age and wrote about it in nonfiction, like in her article Dancers Now Drown Out Even the Cowbell in he Atlanta Journal Sunday Magazine. When Mitchells mother died in 1919, she returned to home to ke

24、ep house for her father and brother. In 1922 she married Berrien Kennard Upshaw. The disastrous marriage was climaxed by spousal rape and was annulled in 1924. Mitchell started her career as a journalist in 1922 under the name Peggy Mitchell, writing articles, interviews, sketches, and book reviews

25、for the Atlanta Journal. Four years later she resigned after an ankle injury. Her second husband, John Robert Marsh, an advertising manager, encouraged Mitchell in her writing aspirations. From 1926 to 1929 she wrote Gone with the Wind, the novel took her nearly ten years. She never thought that so

26、many people favor it even now. The book broke sales records, the New Yorker praised it and the poet and critic John Crowe Ransom admired “the architectural persistence behind the big work” but criticized the book as overly Southern, particularly in its treatment of Reconstruction. Malcolm Cowleys di

27、sdain in his review originated partly from the books popularity. John Peale Bishop dismissed the novel as merely “One more of those 1000 page novels, competent but neither very good nor very sound.” But in these opponents sounds, the book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Mitchell died in Atlanta on A

28、ugust 16, 1949. She was struck by a speeding car while crossing Peachtree Street. 4. Social Conditions of Margaret Mitchells time4.1 Womens social status in America society at Margaret Mitchells time The story happens in the southern plantation before American Civil War. At that time, the South is a

29、 new reclaimed land in which the industrial civilization has not yet penetrated it. The residents rest on the rolling money gained by cotton planting and picking. There, within the shadow of chivalry, keeps the skin-deep grace and splendor. Women living on the red soil are delicate flowers, tightly

30、clinging to men and decorating mens world. They have no rights to vote. Nor can they control their belongings or children after they get married, let alone draw a will or make a treaty without their husbands permission. Their social status is parallel to “that of a minor or a slave” (Deborah L.Madse

31、n, 2006). They endure dual oppression not only from men but also from themselves, lying in the subordinate social position without the privilege to manage their own lives. In this male-dominated world, men stifle womens development from every aspect.Firstly, they strain every nerve to confine women

32、in the house to make sure that womens ignorance has not been corrupted by the society and they are satisfied to be the lovely “vase”. Women are imprisoned at home wanting economic independence. The exclusive approach for their social status and economic warranty is to marry and give birth to babies. Secondly, men also spiritually suppress women. They may yield to women and satisfy their all kinds of small requirements about the household affairs; nevertheless once women have independent opinions, they will feel panic and pull every string to hold them back. Regrettably, women are imp