The Image ofLunatic Woman in the Novel of Jane EyreBertha Mason.docx

1、The Image of Lunatic Woman in the Novel of Jane EyreBertha Mason论 文 摘 要简爱是世界文坛上的不朽名著, 但多数读者在理解简爱的同时对作品中的伯莎-住在阁楼上的疯女人的形象往往忽视和扭曲。其实,伯莎是悲剧人物的代表。她的存在,对于简爱反对男权主义的压迫主义以及对女性自由平等的呼吁主题的表达具有重要意义。本文通过阐述这个边缘人物伯莎“疯”的原因，通过分析伯莎四次露面过程中行为的逻辑合理性，证明伯莎并不是真的疯；进而联系维多利亚时期女性所遭受的压迫以及社会种族歧视严重的历史情况，证明伯莎她是一位反对男权主义的战士，她将自己隐藏在“疯

2、病”的面具之下，进行着反抗当时男权社会对妇女的压迫剥削的斗争，从而唤醒女性的自我意识。关键词：简爱；疯女人；反抗；女性主义AbstractJane Eyre is a famous novel in the world literature. However, whenever readers read it, they usually ignore Bertha Mason-the lunatic woman in the attic. In fact, Bertha is twisted, oppressed, sympathized and misunderstood. As one o

3、f the most important parts of the novel, the lunatic woman has an great position in the resistance to mens oppression and the expression of novels theme.This paper describes the reason of Bertha Mason becoming “Lunatic”, and analyzes the logical actions of Bertha Mason from her four times appearance

4、s to prove the lunatic woman is not a madness. Then, contacting with the social reality that women were oppressed by men and the popular idea of racial discrimination in the Victorian time, the paper comes to conclude that “Lunatic” woman is a real solider who hides herself in the mask of “Lunatic”

5、to rebel against male-dominated society, and exposes lunatics indignantly protests against males oppressions with her outcry for equality with men. Key words: Jane Eyre; lunatic woman; resistance; feminism. IntroductionCharlotte Bronte has been considered as an outstanding woman literary figure in t

6、he Victorian time. Despite of the largely autobiographical content of her novels，Charlotte Bronte breaks the conventional fictional stereotype of a woman as submissive，dependent，and ignorant in the nineteenth centuryHer severe experiences mold her indomitable characters and her works are full of spi

7、rit of resistance, exposing the evil phenomenon of the society. Her books are regarded as the classics in the area of feminist literary criticism. She was passionate and rebellious. Some experts commented that Charlotte Brontes works had revealed the truth of contemporary politics and society in the

8、 world, which was more than what statesmen, political commentators and moralists had contributed. Her masterpiece Jane Eyre describes the heroine searches for an identity as a new woman supported by economic and emotional independence in a world, which is not expected such ambitions in women at that

9、 time. The highly acclaimed Jane Eyre best demonstrates the breakthrough: on the one hand, Jane, a woman has her unique thought and personality, dares to struggle with the fate and seeks for independence and equal rights. On the other hand, this work has deeply exposed the harsh reality of Britain a

10、nd praised the struggle of those women who stood up for equality. Jane Eyre is a novel which is well-known in the world. As soon as it was published, almost every reader was greatly moved. This most acclaimed of novels “English”, “Gothic”, “romantic”, “female”is always a surprise, in the very author

11、ity, resonance, and inimitable voice of its heroine. With the development of feminism in twentieth century, another character-Bertha Mason has begun to attract more attention and start a new page of feminist research. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar published The Madwoman in the Attic, a now classic

12、text of early feminist literary criticism (1978). General Speaking, Bertha Mason, who is the insane wife of Mr. Rochester, the counterpart of Jane, is nothing more than one of several trials that Jane must face and overcome; the final test following struggles with her vindictive Aunt Reed and the hy

13、pocritical headmaster of Lowood boarding school, Mr. Brocklehurst. In fact, Charlotte Bronte put her in an important position where as a resistant solider hide herself in the madness. For instance Bertha Mason uses fire to injure Rochester, which is a symbolism of her feminine consciousness involved

14、 with rebellious spirit and hatred of the oppression from male. In a word, Bertha Mason and Jane are sisters from different aspects to protest against the male oppression and seek for feminine freedom and equality.In previous studies, the description of lunatic just serves as a foil to express heroi

15、nes kindness and self-esteem, meanwhile, as a evidence to embody females criticism of the patriarchal society at that time. There are few researches of whether Bertha is a real lunatic or not. In Jane Eyre, as a marginal person, Bertha Mason utters no words and all her information comes from a doubl

16、e subjective narration, and it is riddle that Masons story is true or not. This paper aims to prove the lunatic woman is not a madness mainly from analyzing the logical actions of Bertha Mason from her four times appearances and concludes that “lunatic” woman is a real fighter who hides herself in t

17、he mask of “Lunatic” to rebel against the male-dominated society and exposes lunatics indignantly protests against males oppressions with her outcry for equality with men. Firstly, this paper analyses the appearance of “Lunatic”, and introduces the two main reasons of Mason becoming “Lunatic”, so as

18、 to reveal the oppression suffered by Victorian women in marriage, and the racial discrimination in society. Then, mainly from three aspects to interpret feminism image from Masons “Lunatic”: first, Masons character of self-esteem and rebel makes her cant be a traditional wife of the Victorian era,

19、and Masons Creole mongrel makes her suffer discrimination in society, which determine Mason to have the unique experience of being imprisoned in the attic; secondly, analyzes the logical actions of Bertha Mason from her four times appearances to prove the lunatic woman is not a madness; thirdly, con

20、cludes Masons unique image, namely the female fighter against the male oppression; a victim of marriage, fame and fortune trading. Finally, concludes that Mason is not a really “Lunatic”, Bertha Mason is a soldier who never compromise. Foil character as she is, but Bertha Masons high spirit of strug

21、gle awakening female to fight for their equal. . The Reasons for Bertha Mason Seeming to Be “Lunatic”2.1. The Background of Bertha MasonBertha Mason-Mrs Rochester, who has been locked away in the attic of Thornfield Hall for ten years by her husband and the lunatic woman who takes her life as a pric

22、e, burns down Thornfield at last. Berthas story is related through a double narration: Janes memories as a mature narrator, and Rochesters account of a personal story. Personal stories, memories and temporal distance entangle to provide a portrait of Bertha, whose own voice is never heard except thr

23、ough her outrageous laughter. Mason is exotic beauty and charm and she owns a wealth family arranged marriage, but her husband Rochester states he never loved Bertha because she is mad. She always gives off loudly eerie laugh at night, she will attack others suddenly and she burns the Thornfield at

24、last. It seems that Bertha Mason is an evil lunatic.However, why Bertha Mason just attach her husband and her brother? All her madness aims at the people who makes her life in the gloomy corner. From her actions, it can be seen that she is just a helpless woman who has been abandoned by her family a

25、nd husband. It may be strange that Bertha Masons family does not to rescue their folk. But in that age, female is a price for male to gain more interest. Bertha Mason is not worth the price for her family to cut off the cooperation with Mr Rochester. Ten years of darkness life is like a best torment

26、ing her and nobody cares about her at all, as a consequence, revenge is probable the only meaning for Mason to support her alive. 2.2. The Control of Some People on Bertha Mason2.2.1. Bertha Masons husband-Mr. RochesterThe lunatic woman-Bertha Mason is abandoned by her relatives and the society. In

27、Thornfield, she is a secret. Nobody knows she is the mistress and even regards her as a lunatic. How a mistress is reduced to such a low position? Her husband-Mr Rochester is blamed. According to Mr Rochester, the reason why he has imprisoned his wife is that she is mad, but it is easy to image an o

28、pposite relation of cause and effort, in which years of enforced imprisoned and isolation have made her violently insane or, at least increased her insanity. Even Mason is mad because of her family inheritance, since he marries her, he should take the responsibility for his own choice. The other ass

29、umption is that Mr. Rochester can divorce the lunatic woman as soon as he realizes that. But he gives up this plan because of the following lose of wealthy when he divorces with his rich wife. Therefore, he keeps their marriage in secret. In Rochesters mind, his mad wife has blemished his “honor” an

30、d “reputation” and blocked his way to new happiness. So he takes cruel actions：to lock her as a wild beast in the permanent isolation from the outside world. He wants nobody to know the truth so that he can wait for a chance that one day he could realize his plan：bigotryThis is the trick of the sly

31、fox. His action has other purposes: to vindicate his “honor” and “reputation” and to continue his profligate life. To him, a mad wife has far more infamous than his own degradation in morality. Such is his aristocratic bourgeois moral outlook! For Bertha Mason, her husband is the most hated person.

32、The man has married her, but has locked her as an animal in the attic and makes her a “lunatic”. He has secretly kept mistresses outside and even wants to marry Jane. It is truth that Mrs Rochester indeed lives a sinful life before she is insane, but sin is itself a species of insanity. Moreover, when Mr Rochester unfolds the story of his marriage to Bertha, he closely specifies each symptom included in Prichards description of moral insanity. Rochester refers to a woman who carries both mental and moral corruption in her blood: a kind of madness. It is important to notice that t