女性主义视角下斯嘉丽

女性主义视角下斯嘉丽•奥哈拉的性格特点中文摘要1926年，美国著名作家玛格丽特·米歇尔创作了《飘》，耗时近十年才得以出版。

《飘》是一部表现美国南北战争前后旧南方人们生活及心理变化的爱情小说。

尽管那个时代男女不平等，《飘》中的妇女却展示了和男性一样甚至胜于男性的勇气和智慧。

这本小说表现了早期的女性独立意识。

尤其是女主人公斯嘉丽·奥哈拉,她创立了新女性形象。

一方面斯嘉丽拥有着男性梦想中女性的美丽的容颜，另一方面，斯嘉丽勇敢又聪明，当陷入困境，她站起来保护她的家人和朋友。

在对抗主流价值观和追求女性自身权益和地位的过程中，斯嘉丽·奥哈拉拥有了早期的女性主义意识。

女性主义意识是实现女性独立的重要因素，基于这一主题，本文以玛格丽特·米歇尔的著名小说《飘》为蓝本分析其女主人公斯嘉丽·奥哈拉，主要从斯嘉丽·奥哈拉女性主义意识的特点入手。

法国著名作家西蒙·德·波伏娃曾说：“女人不是生成的，而是造就的。

”通过分析，本文得出了一个结论：只有在不同的关系中保持独立的人格并互相帮助，女性才能在社会上获得平等的地位。

关键词：玛格丽特·米歇尔，《飘》，斯嘉丽，女性意识觉醒，独立。

ContentsAcknowledgements........................................... 错误！未定义书签。

Abstract................................................... 错误！未定义书签。

Chinese Abstract .. (III)1 Introduction (5)2 Theoretical Foundations (6)2.1 Feminism theory (6)2.1.2 The Original of Feminism (8)2.1.3 The Development of Feminism (9)2.2 Major Feminism Characters in Gone with the Wind (12)3 The Feminism Characteristics of Scarlett O’Hara (12)3.1 The Growth background of Scarlett O’Hara (13)3.2 Different Scarlett with Feminism (13)3.2.1 Pursuit of love (13)3.2.2 Strong Will in War (16)3.2.3 Ardently Love for Land (16)3.2.4 Requirements for female Right (18)3.3 Relative People in the Foundation of Scarlett’s Feminism (18)3.3.1 Ellen O’Hara (19)3.3.2 Melanie Hamilton (20)4 The incompleteness of Scarlett’s Feminism (21)4.1 The Lack of Discourse Right (22)4.2 The Lack of Rational Thinking (22)5 Conclusions (23)Notes (25)Bibliography (26)The Character of Scarlett O’Hara from the Perspective of Feminism1 IntroductionAs Gone with the Wind is the plot foundation this thesis, so at the beginning, I would give an introduction to the writer of this novel. Margaret Mitchell is one of the most famous American women writers. She was born in a middle-class family in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1900. Her mother was a well educated suffragette supporting for women's vote right. Her father was a lawyer who was known for his intelligence and punctiliousness in Atlanta. When Margaret was just a young child, she enjoyed writing and listening the veteran's talking about stories of the War Between the States. In 1929, she accomplished her only novel Gone with the Wind, which took name from Ernst Dawson’s poetry <sum qualís eram bonae sub regno Cynarae> ‘I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind’. [2] In Gone with the Wind, Scarlett, the heroine of the novel, was a self-centered girl who possess the characteristic of feminism consciousness. Taking feminine as its theoretical framework, this thesis tries to find out its feminism connotations in the narration of Gone with the Wind.There are three main research methods of this thesis: literature research method, qualitative analysis method, and experiential summary method. Through analysis the charact er of Scarlett O’Hara from the perspective of feminism, I have a full sight of female. In some way, understanding feminism can help female to recognize themselves, and enhance their confident and esteem.This thesis consists of five parts. First is introduction. It mainly introduces the writer of Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell, the main research methods, and the significance of thesis. Second is the theoretical foundation. It talks about the definition, original and development of feminism. Third is talking the feminism characteristics of Scarlett O’Hara from three aspects. Fourth is talking the incompl eteness of Scarlett’s Feminism from two aspects. In the end, it is conclusion.2 Theoretical Foundations2.1 Feminism theoryFeminism theory is the extension of feminism in theory and philosophy category. It seeks to understand the nature of gender inequality. It was observed among social role, experience, interests, and political participation of female in many academic fields, such as anthropology, sociology, communication studies, psychoanalysis, literature, economics, education and philosophy. Feminism theory emphasizes the analysis of gender inequality. Feminism exploration themes include discrimination, materialized, oppression, patriarchal, prejudice, art history, contemporary art and aesthetics.2.1.1 The Definition of Feminism and its CharactersDifferent people have different views on feminism. In terms of opponents, feminism was often regards as such concepts that held by those extreme, rigid, deviant woman. There are also many kinds of opinions in feminism. The representatives opinions are as follow: first of all, feminism is a theory which based on gender equality. It objected that any female suffer discrimination of any form from society, individual or economic, and requires equal rights for women. Secondly, feminism is political struggle which aim at improving the social, political and economic status of women. Thirdly, feminism is a kind of ideological, and its basic goal is to eliminate discrimination for female and overthrow the male domination of society. Fourthly, feminism refers to a social movement against oppression of women. Feminist are any people who devote themselves to those social movements.In some authoritative dictionaries of Western society, feminism mainly has the following several definitions. Firstly, feminism refers to the principle that women should have equal rights in the political, economic and social with men. This includes two meanings: on the one hand, feminists should recognize that women suffered the inequality and injustice treatment which made them feel helplessness and depress from society. The fundamental purpose of feminism is to eliminate those inequalitiesby taking political act. One the other hand, feminism should recognize the value and concepts of themselves and know their contribution to culture. Secondly, feminism is to explore the social life, philosophy and ethics, and devote themselves to correct the prejudice which causes oppression and contempt for women. Thirdly, Feminism advocates female should have all the citizens rights including the equality in society, politic, and economy the same as men. Fourthly, Women's liberation movement, also known as the feminist movement, is a social movement for pursuing women's equal rights, requiring the same social status as men and the right to freely choose their own career and lifestyle. [3]From the above analysis, it is obvious that the feminism definition actually consists of three aspects: politic, theory and practice. In the political aspect, the feminist thought the inequality between men and women is a question of political power, so feminism is a kind of political struggle which aimed at improving the status of women, with the ultimate goal of eliminating gender inequality and all inequalities, promote equality, cooperation and harmony between gender and interpersonal. In the theoretical aspect, feminism is a new viewing angle to understand the world, society and human, emphasizing gender equality, agreeing with women's sense of worth, doctrine or methodological principle. Its goal is not abstract knowledge, but a concrete knowledge that can be used to guide feminist political practice. In the practical aspect, feminism is a social movement for women's liberation.According to the definition of feminism, we can sum up some characteristics of feminism. Firstly, feminism is flowing and changing. Feminism is not an independent science in the traditional sense from the beginning; it is not only in existing sciences, but also beyond them. It was once known as non-academic politics with view but no theory and methods. Feminism research is always closely linked to the development of other disciplines. Secondly, feminism is historical. No matter it is ideological revolution or social movement, the goal of feminism is still to liberate women, it developed with the process of women's emancipation. Its historic reflects in different historical mission of different ages and societies. Thirdly, feminism is notonly a abstract ideology, but also a specific political platform and political strategy. All kinds of feminism have its own political. Feminism is a strategy and a life principle which decide our thinking and action. Fourth, feminism is diverse. Women in different societies and circumstances have different understanding of their needs, a single feminism can not explain such difference, and no one can have the authority to define feminism. The difference of feminism is also its rich, healthy and dynamic characterization. Fifth, feminism is worldwide. It aimed to liberate women out of all forms of oppression and promote the solidarity among women in all countries. Sixth feminism is a national, it aimed at combining the various of country-specific cultural and economic conditions to consider the strategies of women's liberate.2.1.2 The Original of FeminismThe rise of feminism movement in Western society has its specific context. Then the social status of women in Europe is very low. Before the seventeenth century, women who married in the United Kingdom can not to mention what the basic rights of, unless her husband give her right voluntarily; when her husband is still alive, she and her property is just the personal pleasure of her husband entirely. In some countries, if the husband died without a testament, the property of the woman will be given to her husband's relatives, but not to her or her children. Such as the British Christian churches said: "A woman should obey the will of man, and man is her master.” That is, women can not live according to the will of her, leaving the man she can not do anything or everything can not be accomplished by her. She should do what men has done, and serve a man as a master. She should also be afraid of man, belong to man and obey the man.Previous history of feminism can be traced back to a long time ago. The earliest feminists committed to the so-called "woman problem", they criticized the role which limited women, but they did not necessarily think that women are weak, or man should be condemned because of it. In the view of modern philosophy and social movement, feminism usually originates from the Age of Enlightenment thinkers of the 18th century. Such as Mary Wollstonecraft's book "A Vindication of the Rights ofWoman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects" is one of the few works which can be called feminism in the 18th century. In this book, Wollstonecraft fights back against those political theorists in 18th-century who attempt to deny female education. She believes that women’s education levels should be commensurate with their social status. She advocates a country must have women, because women educated their children and they can become a "partner" of their husband rather than his wife. Wollstonecraft also advocates: women as human beings should enjoy the same fundamental rights as men, and should not be treated as an ornament or a property in marriage transactions. She believes men and women are responsible for this situation, and that women should have a lot of power more than men is a matter of course. This is not to say that there are not much earlier other writings on gender equality. For example, the mysterious philosopher Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa wrote a book The Declamation on the Nobility and Preeminence of the Female Sex in the 1529.Feminism gradually transformed into an organized social movement in the 19th century, because more and more people believe women in a male-centered society suffered unequal treatment. Feminism movement rooted in the Western progressivism, especially in the reform movement of the 19th century. Time of organized movements is from the first feminism conference which was held in Seneca Falls in 1848.2.1.3 The Development of FeminismDepending on the different concerns of feminism theory, the development of feminism can be divided into two waves: early feminism movement and the new feminism movement. Early feminism movement emerged in the mid-19th century, which is deeply rooted in social and political life of the country. Feminism movement of this period believe that the value of women can be fully demonstrated in the public domain, it encourages women to enter the public sphere, requires freedom and equality rights of women which are mainly the three equalities: economic equality, political equality and professional equality, and fight for women's suffrage.The new feminism movement refers to the feminist movement emerged in 1960s, feminism ofthis generation affected by Marxism and the new leftist ideology, emphasizing the differences and uniqueness, no longer treat the relationship between men and women as a relationship between two individuals, and began to throw out a challenge for the social ideology which lead women to a disadvantage status and gender bias in language, law and philosophy. The new generation of feminists not only tries to recognize the situation of women from social politics and economic reasons, but also search the oppression of women as oppressed groups. They stressed that the purpose of the emancipation of women is not like the struggle for social equality that prompt women to survive like a man, but to develop a new, female proprietary language, law, philosophy and mythology. The core of new feminism movement is complete difference feminism --- women's liberation movement. It is a radical, left-wing, socialism feminism, it rejected the idea of equality with men, and take a place of emphasizing the liberation of all oppressed people.Feminism can be roughly divided into several factions since the 1960s.First is Liberal Feminism. Liberal feminism is influenced by liberal political theory. the theory thought rationality is the common nature of human. Individual has the value beyond all things because of natural endowments and individual potential and it is equal between people. Personal freedom was made possible because the individual recognize the freedom of others and restrict their right under the premise of equality, not to harm others. Feminist considered the reason why women suffer oppression is that a series of social traditions and legal repressed women's potential. This hindered social progress. Thus, Liberal Feminism fight for the rights of women and eliminating discrimination against women in law and social habits, such as the right to vote, individual property rights, the right to education and the right to equal employment opportunities, etc.Second is Marxist feminism.Marxist feminism agrees with Engels's view of the origin of gender inequality, they thought women's oppression is accompanied by the appearance of private ownership. As privatization, wealth is concentrated in a small number of people, almost all men initially, it leads to the generation of class andwomen enslaved situation. This class oppression and gender oppression are manifested the capitalism and imperialism in contemporary. Oppression of women is not only caused by patriarchy, which is men prevail over women, but also the product of the capitalist system itself. If all women are liberated, capitalism must be replaced with socialism, productions must be owned by the whole people, and productive forces must be liberated. So that women got economic independence in men, liberation.Third is radical feminism.Radical f eminism denied liberal feminism’s view on the causes of women's oppression is the lack of political and civil rights, and opposed to the Marxist feminism’s view on the causes of women's oppression is class oppression perspective. They tried to explain much social oppression with gender oppression, and thought the root cause of women's oppression is based on the existence of patriarchy which is characterized by power, domination, and hierarchy. Women want to be truly liberated, it is not enough to destroy the legal and political structure of this system, but also destroy its social and cultural structures, including the family, the community and schools.In addition to critiquing patriarchy, while Radical feminism were also trying to find the ideal gender roles. In the early 1970s, due to considering the gender system is a cause of oppression, many people advocate a neutral culture to replace the original distinction between the two poles of the sexes. In an ideal society, there should be no difference between men and women.Forth is postmodern feminism. Postmodern feminism regards ideological emancipation as the most fundamental women liberation, and opposes to turn the feminism theory into rigid dogma. They emphasize the difference in women's class, racial, cultural and ethnic and pay attention to the concept of difference and otherness. Postmodern feminism requires women in the Third World to care about the development of feminism, they advocates establishing a global network. However, the question of how to combine the differences and commonality is still the most important challenges for the postmodern feminism.Feminism, as an active force in contemporary society, promotes the socialprogress and human development, especially has made an indelible contribution for the global women's liberation. Meanwhile the feminism as a new spirit has integrated into the society, culture, politics, economy, and history etc., and enriched the human spirit culture.2.2 Major Feminism Characters in Gone with the WindThe degree of female individuality and self-realization is a symbol of the rise of feminism. In the traditional concept of society, men are the center of social activity, while women just a foil, women always stand behind the men. However, with the changes in society and the development of the times, women’s feminism consciousnesses are slowly awakening.In Gone with the Wind,though the Southern women suffered repression, they were not ignorant vulnerable groups. They propped up the South civilization and Southern plantation economy with their love, wisdom and tenacity and proved that they were fully capable of going out of home and getting rid of the male accessory social status. Their feminism consciousness reflected in the pursuit of love and the revolt of arranged marriages, in addition the rise of strong female in the war represent women's pursuit of autonomy.The intense and complex feminism consciousness in this novel focused on Scarlett’s pursuit for love, money and career. Feminism consciousness of Scarlett experiences a transformation process from immaturity to maturity. Scarlett did not succumb to the shackles of propriety, boldly pursuing her happiness, gender equality, personal and economic independence. Such a process is also the process of feminism’s growing up.3 The Feminism Characteristics of Scarlett O’HaraUndoubtedly，Scarlett is the special one in Gone With the Wind. In this chapter,I will tell the characters of Scarlett O’Hara detailed from the Perspective of Feminism.3.1 The Growth background of Scarlett O’HaraScarlett was born in the Southern plantation before the Civil War. Georgia is a newly reclaimed land of red, industrial civilization hasn’t deep into this land, planting and picking cotton are the whole life of local residents. Here it is elegant and gorgeous in the surface, with the remnant shadow of the age of chivalry, however women lived in the red land, as delicate flowers, closely depend on men, and become male world's decorations. They suffer double oppression from their own and men, and because of the subordinate social status, they can not dominate their lives.Scarlett's father Ge rald O’Hara is an immigrant of Irish, who became a lucrative plantation owner from scratch by Starting a Business. Her mother Ellen O’Hara was born in a notable and gentility family in the coastal city of Savannah. Scarlett not only inherited her father characters of forthright, rough, sloppy, and bad-temper, but also influenced by her mother who paid attention to family education and moral values. Growing up with good education, charming appearance and intelligent mind, she was envied by the other girl in this town.In the troubled times of Southern plantation, she turned a little spoiled princess from a noble family into a mature strong women day by day.3.2 Different Scarlett with FeminismThe heroine Scarlett is the representation of rising female, the author placed the expectation and confidence for women on her. Obviously Scarlett is a brave fighter in the mid-19th century Southern society. She broke through the heavy yoke of the female and showed out women’s dazzling style. Scarlett is no longer the traditional women who just choose to swallow when suffered oppression, taking the place of showing women’s courage and determination through seeking her own values and fighting for the right herself.3.2.1 Pursuit of loveLove is an essential part of the world of human emotions. In the process of a person's mental and physical maturity, production of love has more natural property, but how to deal with such emotion subjected to the complex and rich factors between individual and society. One of the great thinkers once said that: “the same word of love, for man and woman, it has two different meanings. For a man, it may be the control of woman, or the way to enhance him. However for a woman, love is giving up herself, love is the ultimate unconditional goal, and love is all the devotion of body and soul.” In love, Scarlett is always the queen. She stands high above a crowed of suitors who willing to subservience, except for Ashley Wilkes. As a simple girl, Scarlett has her own pursuit of ideal love. Love and marriage plays a very important role in the emotional world of Scarlett.Scarlett's love is very bumpy. An important reason is she fell in love with Ashley Wilkes, a man she should not love. Ashley Wilkes is not only a typical gentleman, but also a tradition aristocracy in the Southern society. Scarlett's love for Ashley Wilkes, although with girl’s innocent, it also largely contained the side of greed, vanity, and aggressive. At the picnic of Twelve Oaks, when Scarlett knew the true news which Ashley Wilkes would marry with Melanie sooner or later, for the love of Ashley Wilkes, she broke up ethics and modesty and showed her love for Ashley Wilkes on her own initiative. But beyond expectation, she was rejected by Ashley Wilkes. She was shocked and puzzled. In Scarlett views, Melanie just an unattractive girl with a small body, how can Melanie compete with her? Obviously, Scarlett just regarded the love of man and women as a simple contest of appearance. At the same time, she was convinced that Ashley loves her, which shows the great blindness of her love. It should be said that Scarlett's love for Ashley is quite complex, warm but vanity, obsession but selfish. The more she could not with Ashley, the more she wanted to get him. It shows Scarlett’s ex tremely possessive. When she felt thoroughly disappointed, she turned the love to hate. In order to take revenge on Ashley, the man who gave up her love, and make him sad, Scarlett decided to marry with Ashley Wilkes’wife Melanie Hamilton Wilkes’ brother Charles Hamilton, though she didn’t love him at all. After Ashley married with Melanie, Scarlett was still trying to get Ashley’s love. Charles became a very sad substitute and victim. When Charles died in the war, Scarlett did not show any sadness and nostalgia, even did not care about it. On the contrary, she had an urge to know Ashley’s news. She also went to the dancing party,to chat with the other men. In addition, about love Scarlett still has a very persistent side. In order to faithfully fulfill her promise to Ashley, taking care of Melanie, Scarlett paid a great price. Scarlett's first marriage ended in this way.Scarlett's second marriage was she married with her sister's boyfriend Frank Kennedy. This marriage can be considered to be a non-moral choice as being forced by life. The family trauma and poverty caused by the war hit Scarlett severely. Scarlett felt that she had to face life, to meet the challenge. So she put an unscrupulous target in her sister's boyfriend, a relatively wealthy man, and stole him. In Scarlett’s opinion, marriage can be used, can be regarded as the material basis for the protection of life. So she didn’t put any emotions in this marriage, money is the sole purpose. It vividly demonstrated Scarlett’s greed, ruthless and se lfish.The third marriage was the most memorable one, and it can reflect the feeling world of Scarlett. This time, Scarlett married with Rhett Butler, a visitor from Charleston. He was described as a black sheep, who was expelled from West Point and was not received by any family with reputation in the whole of Charleston, and perhaps all of South Carolina. The first time Rhett met Scarlett at the Twelve Oaks Plantation barbecue, he couldn’t help to falling in love with Scarlett. Rhett was indulgent, cynical, both speculative and gentleman. He and Scarlett are surprisingly similar at confident, cruel, and greedy. Perhaps as they were the same kind of people, Rhett paid true love for Scarlett. Rhett secretly hopes that Scarlett will eventually return the love he's had since the day he saw her at Twelve Oaks. Sadly, Scarlett turned a blind eye to Rhett's love for her. For Scarlett, this combination of them was also completely for the money. Her continuing affection for Ashley Wilkes becomes a problem for the couple. When Rhett knew that Scarlett could never be happy without Ashley, he chose to leave. He does not want to be around when she throws her obsession onto him. But then, by Melanie’s death, Scarlett had a rude awakening: Ashley never really loved her, but Rhett was the man who really loved her. However it was too late to find that, Rhett had gone. Scarlett told herself: Home. I’ll go home. And I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day. It is the spirit of never giving up.The third marriage of Scarlett was also failed. Compared with the previous two marriages, this marriage has some factors of love apart from the utilitarian purpose in the surface. The essence is the attraction of soul between each other, that is to say, shefinally found true love. She finally realized that the thing most worth for pursuing in life is not money, not a success but love. It was completely different from the spirit love of Ashley, because it achieved a combination of body and soul.3.2.2 Strong Will in WarWar led to Scarlett’s female consciousness. Because of the war, economic collapsed in South, its civilization and moral customs also fell apart, losing the original restraints. After the Civil War, Scarlett’s mother died, her father lost himself, without food and source of income, faced all of those Scarlett quickly abandoned the noble lady's effeminacy. She grew up in the grim life. She no longer maintained the noble lady’s demeanor. She told herself: “As God as my witness...as god as my witness they’re not going to lick me. I’m going to live through this and when it’s all over, I’ll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat, or kill, as God as my witness, I’ll never be hungry again.” [4]In order to survive, she had to do the milking and cook in person, and walked the fields picking cotton. For the sake of finding a way to protect her home - Tara, she went into Atlanta bravely. With the purpose of her family, Scarlett broke through social barriers which set for women, and struggled for her career like men. When Scarlett was still young, she got the traditional concept of education, that man could do everything, but a woman could not have any talent. But she had full confidence in her ability after she overcame the trouble in the war. She started to have doubt about the social customs which made women depress. Especially when she found that, as a businessman, Frank was lack of businessman mind, which led to the store a complete mess. She was suspicious of m an’s power and had a confidence of her own ability. Then Scarlett thought that: “Why, I could run this store better than he does! And I could run a mill better than he could, even if I don’t know anything about the lumber business.” She took actions to achieve her idea. It shows her intelligent and brave.3.2.3 Ardently Love for LandIn the emotional world of Scarlett, Tara is in a very important status. In fact, Scarlett's "Tara Complex" is throughout the whole story. After Scarlett heard Ashley。