王熙凤与斯嘉丽性格特点的对比-A Comparative Study on the Character Traits between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett
05-14, 2014
王熙凤与斯嘉丽性格特点的对比-A Comparative Study on the Character Traits between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett
Ⅰ.Introduction 引言
红楼梦，由曹雪芹在第十八世纪中叶清朝时期创作的，描述的是一个古老的中国封建制度的衰减。红楼梦是中国古典四大名著。这部小说围绕中国封建社会后期的贵族社会的生活，反映十八个世纪上的人民的生活。在贾宝玉、林黛玉和薛宝钗的爱情故事是小说的主线。
红楼梦，由曹雪芹在第十八世纪中叶清朝时期创作的，描述的是一个古老的中国封建制度的衰减。红楼梦是中国古典四大名著。这部小说围绕中国封建社会后期的贵族社会的生活，反映十八个世纪上的人民的生活。在贾宝玉、林黛玉和薛宝钗的爱情故事是小说的主线。
A Dream of Red Chamber, composed by Cao Xue Qin some time in the middle of the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty, is a description of the old Chinese feudal system which falls into decay. A Dream of Red Chamber is one of the four Chinese classical novels. This novel centers around the life of the aristocratic society in the late Chinese feudal society, which is a mirror of human’s real life in the first half of the 18th century. The love tragedy among Jia Bao-yu, Lin Tai-yu and Xue Bao-chai is as main line in the novel. A Dream of Red Chamber portrays a picture of rise and fall of four big familys—Jia, Shi, Wang, Xue and various complicated contradictions in the feudal family, mainly the description of Jia family. The degradation of the feudal marriage, morality, culture and education is demonstrated obviously in the novel which reflects that feudal society is bound to decline. Meanwhile, the novel praises the nobility’s rebellious spirits who violate the feudal ethical love and also reflects the spirit of pursuing individual freedom. From some degree, this novel is believed to be a semi-autobiography, a reflection of the fortunes of Cao's own family which experienced a tortuous development process from prosperity to decline. The novel is remarkable for its huge characters (most are the females).Wang Xifeng is one of the principal characters in the novel, a not-so-well educated upper-class woman with finesse. She is also known as "Peppercorn Feng" or "Hot Pepper". She is a niece of lady Wang and is married to Jia Lian who is the eldest grandchild of grandmother Jia. She plays a significant role in the day-to-day running of the Rongguo mansion.
飘，由玛格丽特·米切尔在1936年创作，是一个以美国内战为背景的长篇小说。自从出版，飘一直广受读欢迎者和在1937年获得普利策奖。它讲述了秋天的邦联，亚特兰大的燃烧，和南方的军事占领，内战失败后南方的重建。这部小说是写斯嘉丽的爱情和描绘的美国南部从奴隶种植园经济到工业资本主义经济的变换。通过斯嘉丽的经历，小说体现了我们勇于面对现实，从不向命运屈服，始终保持坚强的精神。
飘，由玛格丽特·米切尔在1936年创作，是一个以美国内战为背景的长篇小说。自从出版，飘一直广受读欢迎者和在1937年获得普利策奖。它讲述了秋天的邦联，亚特兰大的燃烧，和南方的军事占领，内战失败后南方的重建。这部小说是写斯嘉丽的爱情和描绘的美国南部从奴隶种植园经济到工业资本主义经济的变换。通过斯嘉丽的经历，小说体现了我们勇于面对现实，从不向命运屈服，始终保持坚强的精神。
Gone with the Wind, composed by Margaret·Mitchell in 1936, is a long novel with the background of the American Civil War. Since published, Gone with the Wind has been popular with readers and won the Pulitzer Prizes in 1937. It tells about the fall of the Confederacy, the burning of Atlanta, and the military occupation of the South, mirrors Southern defeat and reconstruction from the losing civil war. The novel is themed by the love affairs of Scarlett and portrays that Southern US transforms from the economy of slave plantation to the economy of industrial capitalism. By the experiences of the Scarlett, the novel reveals us a spirit, a spirit that has the courage to face the reality, never yield to the fate and always keep strong. Moreover, the novel eulogizes the rebellious spirit against Male-dominated Society. Margaret·Mitchell’s parents were born at the end of the American civil war. Her father was the president of the History Society in Atlanta and her mother was the leader of the most mighty feminist groups. Influenced by her parents, she shapes a strong sense of feminist consciousness. She refused the arranged marriage. Therefore, the novel is considered to be a reflection of the life she longs for.#p#分页标题#e#
Wang Xifeng and Scarlett show the great similarities in the characters despite their different histories, cultures and geographies. Both of them have become the controversial roles in the women image of the world literature. Readers hold different views to the two females. Some scholars regard them as the representative of the selfishness and cruelty；while others consider them as the representative of the braveness and independence. This paper aims at comparing Wang Xifeng with Scarlett for the purpose of making readers know them better. This paper mainly discusses their similarities from the following aspects. Both of them have the strong feminist consciousness. Apart from the feminity, both of them are masculine. Besides, they have different characters traits and different fates. Finally, this paper will explore the characterization of women image in different periods and different backgrounds and finally initiates with re-consideration of women issues.
Ⅱ. Similar Character Traits 相似的性格特点
From the standpoint of time, the publications of Gone with the Wind and A Dream of Red Chamber have a long distance. Furthermore, the survival background and cultural background of the two authors are different. However, all those things above do not prevent authors from making some common feelings when their society develops into some degree though they are from different periods and countries. Gone with the Wind and A Dream of Red Chamber both embody the social contradictions and conflicts in their own times. Therefore, the characters in their literature works must have some similarities.
2.1 Feminist Consciousness
Feminist consciousness has been rooted in the women’s heart since ancient times in China. However, males had dominated the old society. Females fell into the shackles of some old conventions and they were afraid to show their feminist consciousnesses. Yet, many Chinese literature works had displayed feminist consciousness. Wang Xifeng, an important figure in A Dream of Red Chamber, is one of the representatives of the feminist in the Chinese literature works. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, American feminism came into first wave. The literature works about feminist emerged in America. Scarlett is one of the representatives of the feminist in the American literature works.
2.1.1 The Pursuit of Ideal Love and Marriage
In Scarlett’s life, there are two important men. One is Ashley, the other is Rhett Butler. Scarlett falls in love with Ashley when she is 16 years old. In childhood, they always play together. To Scarlett, Ashley is so attractive that she loves him until she is 28 years old. In the novel, there is a description about Ashley. “He was handsome and courteous, but aloof, remote. No one would tell about what he was thinking about, Scarlett least of all. He stood alone in his interest in books and music and his fondness for writing poetry”.（Mitchell,1993:19） Due to her curiosity to Ashley, it makes her love him more. Scarlett is miserable until she concludes that Ashley does not know she is in love with him. She plots to make Ashley jealous by surrounding herself with men at the barbecue the next day at the Wilkes plantation of Twelve Oaks, then tells him that she prefers him above all the others. Things do not go according to plan. After Scarlett pulls Ashley into the library and confesses her love, Ashley says that he loves her, but he will still marry Melanie. She has all the passion for life that he does not have. But Melanie looks like him and they understand each other. Due to jealousy, she marries to Melanie’s younger brother —Charles. Soon after, Ashley and Charles both are enlisted in the front line during the civil war. Unfortunately, Charles dies in the war. Scarlett becomes a widow. Later, she marries her sister’s fiancé Frank Kennedy. But she loves Ashley all the time. During the war, she tries to look after Melanie and her son because she loves Ashley and has promised to him. She even takes care of injured Ashley. She always dreams that she would flee with Ashley and marry him. Actually, Ashley is a coward. He has no courage to tell Scarlett that he loves Melanie. However, Ashley is an unreal image made by herself. He is not the one she loves in the real life. The one she really loves is an image in her dreams. Her true love is Rhett Butler who she is acquainted in the charity ball. From that moment, this gentlemen falls in love with her but he does not realize. Because of his bad reputation, she does not have any good impression on him. To Rhett, the first impression on her is also not good. From very beginning, they have the same feeling about each other—ridicule and respect. They should not pretend to be lady and gentlemen. Rhett loves her, so whenever she gets into trouble, he would help her. He tries his best to save Ashley in the war. Later, he marries Scarlett. Rhett knows that the two things she longs for in this world—Ashley and wealth. He wants to drive Ashley out of Scarlett’s hearts, but after a long time with his best efforts, he still cannot change her and make her understand his love for her. Finally, he decides to leave her after the death of her daughter. It is too late for Scarlett to realize that she loves Rhett for many years.#p#分页标题#e#
In other’s point of view, Scarlett is a woman who is disloyal to love and always seduces men. Her Vanity and immature contributes to her first marriage. Her second marriage is for the purpose of wealth. Her last marriage makes her find her true love. Actually, her love and marriage are the embodiment of her feminist consciousness. She is reluctant to accept her father’s arranged marriage for her. She dares pursue her love and her happiness. If Melanie falls in love with another gentlemen, she is impossible to pursue her love. The only consequence is that she marries Ashley at her father’s request and hide her strong emotion forever, being a good housewife. For the consideration of old conventions in her mind, she does not dare go after her love. However, Scarlett is a new kind of woman seeking for love equality. She confesses her love to Ashley bravely. Although she is refused, she does not abandon her dream to marry Ashley. No matter what makes her marry others, she loves Ashley all the time until she finds her true love. She has great confidence to life and to love. She never resigns herself to men. When Rhett leaves her, she still has the confidence to let him come back to her. Even though all her marriages are tragic, she has initiative in her love and always plays a dominant role in her marriages. She can do whatever she wants to regardless of other’s judgments. To her, love should not be restricted by the conventions or other people. Everyone should have the right to pursue his own love.
From the above description, love is obviously the most important thing in Scarlett’s life and is a reflection of feminist consciousness. But to Wang Xifeng, is it the most important thing? No. It does not mean that she does not care her marriage. Borned in the feudal family, she has no choice to pursue her love and marriage. She has to reconcile herself to her seniorities no matter how brave she is. Polygamy has been a root of the women’s tragic destiny. The marriage of Wang Xifeng is without doubt a irrevocable tragedy. It’s different from Scarlett, different cultures and social backgrounds lead to different fates. As a woman from rich family, Wang Xifeng rarely goes out and sees men. Therefore, how could she come across the person she loves? As to her marriage, she marries a person whose family has a great property and a prominent position in the society. Her husband, however, is a dude who always has lovers behind her back. Her jealousness is well-known in the Jia family. How could she bear all her husband’s behaviors? In the Jia family, her position is second only to Lady Wang. Though she can not own perfect love, she has a strong willing to keep her husband far away from other women. She does not want any women to share her husband with her. At that time, none of women dares get into interference of husband’s extra-marital affairs directly. However, Wang Xifeng is so different from other traditional women that she can overpower her husband by her wits. Two things show her feminist consciousness.#p#分页标题#e#
In the 40th chapter, in the day of her birthday, she drinks more alcohol so she goes home ahead of time. Fortuitously, she catches her husband in the act of carrying on a clandestine love affair. She is extremely angry, beating the woman who is a servant’s wife, and letting out a volley of oaths. Her action is a challenge to the Sexual freedom of men in the feudal society. This matter has known by the whole Jia family, but it ends up with nothing for the interference of grandmother Jia. In the 65th chapter, Jia Lian marries Second Sister You secretly, and arranges a house for her. Having got this matter, she is afraid that she will lose her husband and her position in the Jia family if Second Sister You borns a son. For consideration of this serious thing, she designs to drive away Second Sister You and result in her suicide. It also becomes one of the reasons of Wang Xifeng’s tragic marriage. All her actions are actually the embodiments of feminist consciousness. She is against the polygamy and longs for the equal marriage. In the feudal society, marriage is the only way to get Subsistence Security System. Once they find their husbands have lovers outside, they have to reconcile herself to them, while Wang Xifeng is a new kind of woman. She is a shrew. At the beginning, she tries her best to keep her marriage happy, but in vain. She knows her husband so well that she has to maintain her marriage by her power. However, her feminist consciousness is inhibited by the old conventions.
2.1.2 The Pursuit of Self-Value
Wang Xifeng and Scarlett appear in the novel as female images of rebellious traits in the turbulent society. Actually, their rebellious traits are the embodiments of their pursuit of self-value. Facing the harsh reality, they prove their self-value by means of their wisdom and struggle. Challenging the old traditions and the authority over the household has proved their awareness of feminist consciousness.
In the southern society at that time, women only attach themselves to the men and bear the pressure from men and women. Women should be the role of housewives, ignorant and without self-conscious. Because of the southern traditional virtues, they lost their respect and self-consciousness. Scarlett, a brave female, shows us the eternal charms during the course of pursuing her self-value. She pursues her love, happiness and self-value all her life. There is a conversation between Scarlett and Mammy in the book, “some day I’m going to do and say everything I want to do and say, and if people don’t like it I don’t care.” This sentence has appeared many times in the book. Not caring about others’ comment best illustrates her rebel spirit. Another conversation with Mammy, when Mammy said “every time Ah pulls miss Sullen litter dan twenty inches, she sup an faint.” Scarlett immediately answered, “I never faint in my life.” Though Mammy is important, and faint seems to be goodness in the south, Scarlett does not mind, because she is herself, never pretending to do anything to ingratiate anyone. Comparing to other traditional women, she is more willing to live according to her own desire. Although she is respectful to her mother and Mammy, she is also all aware that she can never become a traditional woman like her mother. Her rebellious traits also expresses in her attitude toward religion. She has no faith in God. In prayer time, what in her mind is not Saint Maria but her mother Ellen. She is even absent-minded, thinking how to win Ashley’s love when it’s her turn to pray. With the development of the novel, during the civil war, facing poverty and hardships, she is more and more suspicious about the religion. In the novel, she shows her dissatisfaction to the God. In face of God, everyone is passive, they thought human beings are only the subjects of God. However, unlike others, Scarlett hopes to get return from God for her good deeds, otherwise, it is not necessary to pray. At that time, it is unbelievable for Scarlett to blame God’s unfairness. Her rebellious spirit is also embodied in the challenge of the rules of the society. When she becomes a widow who has to wear black weeds and can’t show her face in the public, she is very displeased. So she accepts Rhett’s invitation to dance with him openly and undoubtedly at the charity ball. When people are talking about her and scolding her, she doesn’t care at all. #p#分页标题#e#
In A Dream of Red Chamber, Wang Xifeng is unlike Lady Wang, Xue Baochai or LiWan. She agrees with the traditional values but not willing to be restricted by them which shows readers a complicated image. In that feudal society, women are subordinate to men. From Ling Dai Yu to Xue Baochai, even Xi Ren, all of them lead a humble life. Only Wang Xifeng, leading a wonderful life, is not only in charge of Jia famiy’s personal management and financial management but also disregard the authority of her husband. In the thirteenth chapter, she shows off her talents without considering her husband’s self-respect. In the sixteenth chapter, Jia Rui asks JiaLian for a job in the Jia family, so JiaLian demands her to arrange a job for Jia Rui, but she does not agree. JiaLian’s nannie also asks him for a job, but in vain. Only Wang Xifeng has the power to decide who can be employed. All above displays Wang Xifeng’s rebellious spirit. Therefore, from the view of female, her actions are the embodiments of her feminist consciousness.
2.2 Androgyny
Another similarity is that they are typically androgynous women. As a woman, both of them have feminine personality. Looking from the physical appearance, they are the beautiful ladies. Meanwhile, they show strong masculine personality from their excellent talent and the image of non-maid.
2.2.1 The Definition of the Androgyny
Wikipedia defines the androgyny as follows：
Androgyne derives from two Greek words. An androgyne in terms of gender identity, is a person who does not fir cleanly into the typical masculine and feminie gender roles of their society. They may also use the term ambigender to describe themselves. Many androgynes identify as being mentally “between” woman and man, or as entirely genderless. They may class themselves as non-gendered, genderneutral, agendered, between genders, intergendered, bigendered, ‘pangender” or genderfluid. (http://en.wikipedia.org)
Individuals are classified as having one of four gender-role orientations: masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated. The androgynous individual is simply a female or male who has a high degree of both feminine (expressive) and masculine (instrumental) traits. A feminine individual is high on feminine (expressive) traits and low on masculine (instrumental) traits. A masculine individual is high on instrumental traits and low on expressive traits. An undifferentiated person is low on both feminine and masculine traits.
Each individual has some characters of the opposite sex. From physiological sense, the human body, no matter whether men’s or women’s, secretes both male and female hormones. And from psychological sense, both men and women have various characteristics of opposite sex. Therefore, from the psychological sense, Scarlett and Wang Xifeng are the androgynous women. Comparing to other feminine women, both of them have the character traits of independence, decisiveness, rationality and domination which are men’s main character traits.#p#分页标题#e#
2.2.2 Excellent Talent
Before the American Civil War, Scarlett is a carefree girl, spoiled and beautiful, look like a proud princess. With the outbreak of the war, she loses everything she owns. War makes her a widow who has to wear black weeds for her husband. In the summer of 1864, Yankees starts to attack Atlanta and everyone is fleeing the city. However, Scarlett has to stay at Atlanta with Melanie for she has made a promise to Ashley to look after Melanie who is going to give birth a baby. She even braves the life danger to escort Melanie and her newly-born baby to go back to Tara in the flames of war. When she comes back to Tara, everything changes. Her mother has died, her father suffers dementia, and her two sisters lay ill in bed. She has to carry the load of the family. To revive Tara, she lays down her position of noble birth, leading the whole family to do all kinds of work in the cotton field. She has the responsibility to protect her family from staring and freezing to death. In order to get the 300 US to help Tara weather the hardships, she marries Frank who she does not love. In the traditional Southern culture, men and women play different roles in the family, but Scarlett takes a role of man to survive Tara. After abandoning the traditional concepts, she takes an initiative to do business with Yankees despite with a deep hatred to them. She buys a sawmill and runs it by herself. She defeats many male competitors by her wits and courage. Though she is pregnant, she still does business in the town. Disregard of family’s persuasion, she commutes from factory to town. During that period, it is difficult to maintain life, let alone the success of doing business. Scarlett, however, has the audacity and capacity to survive Tara. Facing difficulties, she never gives up and always believes that tomorrow is another day. It is obviously to find that Scarlett is an androgynous woman because she takes a role of man to support and manage her family.
Wang Xifeng’s excellent talent is one of her androgynous traits. In the book, there is a description of her, “You are such an exceptional woman, that even men in official belts and caps are no match for you.” The author depicts her competence by many affaires, but managing affairs in the Ning Mansion in chapter 13 is the most convincing example to prove her competence. The funeral of Qin Keqing is a major event which is a challenge for anyone to manage it successfully in this big family. At the beginning, Lady Wang’s only concern is that Wang Xifeng, having no experience of funerals, might lay herself open to ridicule by managing badly. However, demanded by JiaZhen, Wang Xifeng decides to manage the funeral. Facing this delicate situation, Wang Xifeng immediately sorts things out, reflecting as follows: first, this household is such a mixed one that things may get lost. Secondly, unless duties are assigned the servants may shirk work. Thirdly, the heavy expenditure may lead to extravagance and faked receipts. Fourthly, if no distinction is made between large tasks and small ones, some will have a harder time than others. Fifthly, these servants are so out of hand that those with any pretensions may defy me, and those with none won’t do their best. From this, her intelligence and logic expose vividly. Things are too out of hand in Ning Mansion, they really need her to get this place into a shape. As the day of the funeral approached, a thousand and one affairs keep Xifeng so busy that she has no time to eat and is hardly able to have a moment’s rest. When she goes to the Ning Mansion, servants from the Rong Mansion follow her there; when she returns to the Rong Mansion, servants from the Ning Mansion would come after her. Yet busy as she is, her spirits are high. Indeed, she works so hard day and night and handles everything so well that not one of the household, high or low, but is impressed. In the second chapter, Leng Zixing says, “I hear she’s extremely good-looking and a clever talker. So resourceful and astute that not a man in ten thousand is match for her.” Judging from those descriptions, actually, Xifeng palys a role of man in this big family. Androgynous trait makes her more charming.#p#分页标题#e#
Scarlett and Wang Xifeng show great fascination from inside to outside. Their independence, decisiveness, rationality and desire of domination are the charm which men can not match for them. To some degree, their androgynous traits are the embodiments of their feminist consciousness. They want to get as equal right as men in their own society. They are reluctant to be a traditional woman who must be tender, obedient, and loyal to the husband. As woman, they should not lose themselves without self-consciousness.
2.2.3 The Image of “Non-Maid”
There is a description of Wang Xifeng “The springtime charm of her powdered face gave no hint of her latent formidability” which shows that she is good looking. “Scarlett is not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.” Wherever she goes, she is always the focus and center among the young girls, and she is adored by many men, which irritates the other girls. Obviously, all these are their feminity. However, they show their masculine from their behaviors and words.
Scarlett is born in a large family of cotton plantation which owns a hundred Negros. She leads a carefree life since she is born. Her mother Ellen is a traditional woman, so she always wants Scarlett to be a fair lady like her. Logically, she would behave like a fair lady in this traditional home environment. Yet Scarlett is born with loving freedom. Therefore, it is impossible to change her into a fair lady. She behaves not like a faint girl. In contrast, she can climb trees, ride, and throw stones like a boy. Before going to any party, the O’Hara girls must be crammed so full of food at home they will be unable to eat refreshments at the party. When Mammy takes some food to her, she refuses. And later when Mammy tells her that a fair lady must have a small appetite and speak softly. She says “I’m tired of everlastingly being unnatural and never doing anything I want to do. I’m tired of acting like I don’t eat more than a bird, and walking when I want to run and saying I feel faint after a waltz, when I could dance for two days and never get tired. ” she slaps across Ashley’s face with all the strength she has when she is refused by him. All those show that she is as rude as her father. To some degree, she is against traditional restrictions to the women. Actually, her rude behaviors are exactly her awareness of feminist consciousness.
Wang Xifeng is born in a Westernized Family. She grows up as a boy and never receives traditional education. Her grandfather is the sole charge of all foreign tribute. The consciousness of pursuing wealth and power like a man has rooted in her mind since she is young. Her home environment is the major reason for forming her masculinity. She is called Fiery Phoenix in the Jia family. Not only her languages but her behaviors show her image of non-maid. “I’m late in greeting our guest from afar”. People do not see her, but hear her voice firstly. She is so boisterous and pert. In the 28th chapter, “Baoyu found Xifeng standing in the gateway of her compound and picking her teeth with an earpick as she watched a dozen pages move some flower-pots.” In the 36th, when Lady Wang inquires the allowance, Xifeng leaves the house angrily. And then she tucks up her sleeves and stands on the doorstep, remarks, “ it’s pleasant here with the through draught, I’ll cool off a bit before going on.” Her vulgar and pert behaviors just like a common people. In the 29th, “She boxed his ears so hard that he pitched to the ground,” and she swore, “Look out where you’re going, little bastard!” How would a traditional woman behave so rudely. #p#分页标题#e#
They boldly show their characters and are reluctant to be the sacrifice of the traditional cultures. They realize that women should not be obedient to the old tradition, even men. In some degree, their image of Non-Maid is also the embodiment of the feminist consciousness.
Ⅲ. Different Character Traits 不同的性格特点
When mention about Wang Xifeng, malignity and cunning will come out without thinking from readers’ mind. Apparently, Scarlett gives readers a deep impression on her selfish and cruel character. Actually, Scarlett is different from Wang Xifeng. She is always indifferent to the things and people, but she is really kindhearted in her inner world. However, Wang Xifeng always cares about herself, she is an individualist.
3.1 Wang Xi-Feng—Malignity
Wang Xifeng is well known by his malignity. She is smart and capable who is good at playing tricks with people and currying favor with grandmother Jia and Lady Wang. She is so powerful that she can do anything she wants to in the Jia family. If someone or something affects her status in Jia family, she will try every means to dispose of all troubles. There’re many events in the novel which can portray her malicious character. One is “Xifeng Sets a Vicious Trap for a Lover”. She lays a trap for Jia Rui who is lured by her charm. He still dreams of Xifeng though he was framed by her and later falls ill, ending up with his death. The other is “Crafty Xifeg Kills Her Rival by Proxy and Second Sister Swallows Gold and Dies”. Jia Lian marries Sister You secretly without knowing by others. In order to get rid of You, she succeeds in decoying You into grand view garden and making a scene in the Ning Mansion. You is in the abyss of despair and chooses to suicide. She even lends money on usury by making use of the allowance to get profit. When Jia family is going to decline, she still cares about her own interest. All those examples display that she is self-centered. In order to consolidate one's position and pursue wealth, she will be at the risk of killing people. She rarely cares about others, only minding herself.
3.2 Scarlett—Kindness
Many critics consider Scarlett as a man of selfishness and cruelness. All what she does is for her own benefit. She can sacrifice others’ benefit in order to make her survive. To satisfy her own vanity, she lures men, including Frank, her sister’s fiancé. In order to get 300 dollars, she plays a trick on Frank and marries him. And later she manages a sawmill, employing prisoners to work for her in order to pay less salary. Prisoners are treated badly, even dying from the abusive working conditions. She uses all kinds of tricks to defeat her competitors and curry favor with officials. This paper holds a different idea. She is not self and cruel, but stubborn and kind. She marries Frank for keeping Tara. She is born in Tara where she has a lot of wonderful memories and has many important people. She undergoes the dreadful civil war so that she knows the painful feeling of losing families. She swears that she must keep Tara for her father and her family. Actually, her marriage is a sacrifice of her happiness. She marries Frank against her heart because she does not love him at all. At the thought of Tara, she has the courage to manage a sawmill though she is criticized by people in Atlanta. She is also responsible and rational. Ashley asks her to look after Melanie after the fall of Atlanta. Although Melanie is a rival in love, she is still rational to distinguish love from survival. She stays in Atlanta to take care of Melanie and help her deliver a baby. After experiencing the civil war, she has a strong sense of responsibility and love. #p#分页标题#e#
Ⅳ. Conclusion 结论
From Wang Xifeng and Scarlett, we can see that the two authors have common pursuit in the creative psychology, creative implication and thinking. These two novels try to explore and ponder over the true situation of women. Wang Xifeng is in the late feudalism in the mid 18th while Scarlett is in the late slavery in the mid 19th. Apparently, they do not have any similarities. But by comparing them, we can conclude that they have many similarities in their personalities.
Wang Xifeng’s feminist consciousness can not realize and she dies in the end, while Scarlett successes in surviving due to the difference of the culture and system. Wang Xifeng is the time tragedy, no matter how intelligent she is, she does not have the ability to succeed in controling her own destiny. However, Scarlett embodies an indomitable spirit of American people.
This thesis holds that the two females are typical feminist and androgynous women. They pursue their self-value and fight against traditions. They have the excellent talents that men even can not compare with. They also have different personalities. From this thesis, we can infer that feminism arisen in the mid 18th in China and in the 19th in America. Meanwhile, it indicates that two authors oppose the male-centered culture.
Bibliography 参考文献
[1] Cao Xueqin. A Dream of Red Mansions. Beijing: 外文出版社，2003.
[2] Lan Zhaojing. An Analysis of Scarlett’s Realistic Characteristic in Gone With the Wind. Read and Write Periodical, 2008.
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