从女权主义视角分析《华伦夫人的职业》中的人物形象开题报告

1．结合毕业设计（论文）课题情况，根据所查阅的文献资料，每人撰写2000字左右的文献综述：

Literature Review

Widelyacknowledged as the most productive dramatist since Shakespeare, GeorgeBernard Shaw created a vast array of thought-provoking works which, to alarge extent, aimed at unveiling numerous severe social problems andadvocating womens pursuit of freedom and independence. These greatest workshave performed an indispensable role in English literature and given a nameto Shaw as the father of modern drama who was awarded the Nobel Prize of Literaturefor the "demonstration of idealism and humanitarian" in hisworks,Mrs. warrens professionparticularly, in 1925. Shaw was not a man of noble birth but he washard-working, industrious and strong-willed. It follows that he amassed agreat deal of knowledge and wisdom owing to his self-education. It isuniversally acknowledged that George Bernard Shaw is a celebrated realisticwriter for his prominent contributions, that is, plays, which was appreciablyaffected by Ibsen during his lifetime. In 1890, he lectured on Ibsens worksand made a great number of splendid comments, composing a famous essay The Quintessence of Ibsenism duringthe following year.

Despite thefact that Mrs. Warrens Professionwas written by George Bernard Shaw in 1894, it was prevented from productionuntil 1902 at LondonsNew Lyric Club. Fortunately, it was performed for the first time in NewHeaven of America in 1905. George Bernard Shaw is unlikely to merely remindpeople of the significance of pure English, just as he himself admittedbecause he is so concerned about social problems that his worries areexpected to be seen in his wonderful plays, such as, Mrs. Warrens Profession. Shaw wrote in Plays and Unpleasant, Mrs.Warrens Profession was written to draw attention to the truth thatprostitution is caused, not by female depravity and male licentiousness, butsimply by underpaying, undervaluing and overworking women so shamefully thatthe poorest of them are forced to resort to prostitution. No normal womanwould be a professional prostitute if she could better herself by being respectable,nor marry for money if she could afford to marry for love. Not only doesGeorge Bernard Shaws play Mrs.Warrens Profession comment scathingly on the hypocrisy and thefashionable morality of the ruling class, but also reveal the deep-rootedcause of womens destiny and show great sympathy to these pitiful women. As aconsequent, it is essential to gain an in-depth understanding of its theme aswell as some achievements to literatures gratitude as a language master andsatirist with the help of feminism. Mrs.Warrens Profession and feminism will be reviewed respectively.

1. Previous studies on Mrs. Warrens Profession

Mrs. Warrens Profession has been subject to criticism for almost acentury. Many critics treat Mrs.Warrens Profession as a mirror reflect Shaws mind. The Chinese versionof Shaws play, for example, PlaysUnpleasant emerged in 1920s. More than 30 George Bernard Shaws play hasbeen translated into Chinese for half a century. According to statistics ofForeign Literary Thesis Index which was compiled by Henan University,it is estimated that approximately 88 published books and articles focusingon the study of George Bernard Shaw. However two aspects is worth studying,that are Characterization and thematic analysis.

Some scholarsare zealous to analyze characters, two heroines, Mrs. Warren and Vivie inparticular. Zeng Nianchang(2002) thinks highly of Mrs. Warrens image as aclue to trace back to early European feminist culture which plays anirreplaceable role in the history of human civilization. Zhang Mingai(2008)makes a comparative analysis of Major Barbara and Mrs. Warrens Professionmainly centering on George Bernard Shaws outlook on society from theseplays. George Bernard Shaw firmly believes that poverty results from theunjust society and is the cause of society. He applauds revolution ofviolence as a means to transform the society. Wang Xingwei(2009) attempts tomake a quantitative turn-taking analysis for George Bernard Shawsmasterpiece Mrs. Warrens Profession,hoping to reveal the power relation among the characters and theirpersonalities within the framework of conservation analysis. It is aconsiderably brand-new angle to appreciate the fantastic drama. However, hedoes not explore in-depth relevant causes and effect; in consequence, hisinterpretation appears superficial to a large extent. Zhang Chunhui(2012) claimthat Mrs. Warrens Profession is a fantastic drama in George BernardShaws early life and Mrs. Warren is a mild mother of high self-esteem and agreedy people. In fact she becomes the prey of the terrible society inglorious Victorian age. He(2013) also demonstrates that George Bernard Shaw areconcerned about womens tragedy successful in reshaping two womens images: aNew woman and a Fallen woman. He also attempts to proclaim that Mrs. Warrenstruggles for living and falls victim to a cruel patriarchalsociety. XuXingfang(2014) epitomizes Vivie as a New Women who strongly rebels againsttraditional society, just as George Bernard Shaw pictures. Shaws specialperspective of feminism impinges on peoples traditional concepts and makesundeniable contributions to feminist waves.

Others payattention to the analysis of the themes of Mrs. Warrens Profession. Petra Dierkes and Thrun(2006) provethat Mrs. Warrens Profession puttwo taboo topics on the public stage: prostitution and incest. Instead ofcondemning the individual as a scapegoat for moral hypocrisy, the dramacriticizes the ideology, economy, male-dominated society, and the deeplyentrenched prejudice against women in Victorian era. Song Wenling(2013)points out the profession made by Mrs. Warren is not only an employment butalso has some thought-provoking implications, that is, an accusation of theextreme oppression and the cruel exploitation of women in capitalist society.Shaw is sympathetic about womens miserable destiny in Victorian age. Headopts the word in the title which keeps readers in suspense and makes thecriticism more profound. Xie Jiangnan(2014) reflects George Bernard Shawsopinions that the moral hypocrisy in the public and private life of middleclass in Victorian era criticized by modern British writers for yearshindered the individual freedom and the sound development of society. Thus,audiences and readers discern the virtual inhumanity and hypocrisy inVictorian morality.

2. Feminism

2.1 The introduction toFeminism

Feminism can be defined as a complicatedsystem of theory, practice and ideology including creed that all male andfemale are born equal. Considering the irreplaceable mission of feminists toequalize men and women, they have been devoting their lives to eradicatingbias against women in terms of economy, politics, marriage and employment.Feminism to cast off the chains of discrimination first appeared in the late19century in France, thensweeping through the GreatBritain and other parts of the world. Whatfeminism distinguishes from feminine is in that feminism negates full offeminity highly praised by male chauvinist society. In spite of partly agreement,feminism teems with signs against tradition. Feminism contains variousmeanings including the early feminist drives, social struggles for morepolitical rights than before and critical constructional theory research onlaw, education.

To put it ina nutshell, based on and motivated by some activities of women, feminism is acomprehensive definition of social theories and political movements. Feminismplays a significant role in judging social relations, the friendship betweenmen and women in particular.

The deeply entrenched bias against womenleads to numerous unimpressive facts that women have no power in education,politics, and employment as well. Women living in a patriarchy culture, themale-dominated society put women into the lower-level status. Feminism favorswomens rights, but it does not support women are superior to men. In otherwords, it wants to achieve a balance between the status of men and women,that is, the equality. As a result, feminism advocated by people aims atimproving womens status and ensuring womens rights.

2.2The development ofFeminism

The firstwave also which was called the first generation of western feminism startedfrom the second half of 19^th century and ended in the early 20^thcentury. At the beginning, women focused attention on bettering theiremployment, education, politics as well as family status. Then they strivedfor suffrage in politics. A great number of works appeared during theseperiod, for example, Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House and Leo Tolstoys AnnaKarenina. These periods also witnessed the International Womens Day and theEqual Pay Campaign led by Clara Zetkin.

The secondperiod of western feminism, that is Modern feminism, ranged from the early 20^thcentury to 1960s. The feminism was mirrored by the May storm in France. Allmen fought against enemies in the battlefield while women went out of homeand applied for vacant employments during the Second World War. It provedthat women could do what all men were able to; however, when the war ended,men came back from the battlefield and they would return to positions whichhad been occupied by women. The phenomenon made considerably angry, whichlead to womens opposition. Some of them advanced a convincing slogan refuseto go home, refuse to do mother. Simone de Beauvoirs The Second Sex laid a solid foundation for womens uprising atthis time. It was thought highly of as Bible by western women. This bookprovided people with a great deal of data to unveil people inferior statusand also gave women some suggestions to gain independence and liberation.

The thirdgeneration of western feminism also referred to Postmodern Feminism whichderived from 1970s and has been developing until today. Various version offeminism appeared in these time, for example, the Third Feminism,Eco-feminism, Lesbian Feminism and Postmodern Feminism. There are a lot ofinternal disputes in feminism and it also needs integrating andimproving.

2.3 Feminist theory

Feministcriticism which combined the transformational spirit of feminism withliterary criticism happened in the 1960s. It aimed at awakening womensawareness to object to the male-dominated society and their lower-levelstatus. A lot of scholars made every effort to seek evidence to supportwomens oppression and silence in literature and center on re-composingwomens experiences. Thus, some women writers took pseudonyms when publishingthese far-reaching works.

Feministcritics believed that the history of prejudice against women was so long inwestern culture. According to Bible,the most prestigious book in western world, Eve was to be blame for thedepravity of human beings in stead of Adam. Gender discrimination could befound everywhere even in one of the most democratic country, Greeks. Aristotleand other philosophers, Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine held an opinion that womenwere really imperfect men. It was Mary Wollstonecraft that wrote AVindication of the Rights of Women in1702. All women were expected to pursuetheir rights and strongly opposed discrimination. From the early 1900s, a newprogressive era began. Women had suffrage in politics and a leading cause offeminist criticism began to increase.

As the maintechnique used in Mrs. WarrensProfession, feminist theory is essential for us to have a thoroughobservation of characters, Shaws views on women and social morality inVictorian era. Although some critics conducted a comparative analysis ofcharacters in this play, they could not find differences and similarities thetwo major characters, Mrs. Warren and Vivie from the perspective of feminism.There is no exaggeration in saying that it is vital to conduct a feministinterpretation of George Bernard ShawsMrs. Warrens Profession, which is bound to have an ever-lasting effecton the study of Shaw and his works.

Works Cited

Brad, Kent. EighteenthCentury Literary Precursors of Mrs. Warrens Profession. Journal of University of TorontoQuarterly 81 (2012):187-207.

Brad, Kent.The British Censorship of Plays, and Modern Celebrity. English Literature in Transition. 2014, (2): 231-251.

Cui, Xu. An Analysis of Mrs. Warrens Profession from the Perspective ofFeminism. 1 Apr. 2010. Northwest University. 16 June.2010

Hornby, A.S. Oxford Advanced LearnersDictionary．Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1974: 1179.

He, Chengzhou. [何成洲]， 女权主义的发展：从易卜生到萧伯纳. 外国文学研究，1997（2）：36-39

Kay, Li. Mrs. Warrens Profession in China:Functions in Cross-Cultural Adaptations.The Annual of Bernard Shaw Studies.Pennsylvania: Ed. Pennsylvania State UniversityPress, 2004: 201-221.

Li, Lun. [李伦]，《华伦夫人的职业》中女性的形象解析. 湖北科技学院报，2014，（9）：64-65.

Luo, Qilun. [罗绮伦]， 论《华伦夫人的职业》中的女性新形象. 时代文学，2014，（8）：105-106

Petra Dierkes, and Thrun. Incest and the Trafficking of Women in Mrs. Warrens Profession: It Runs inthe Family. English Literature inTransition. 2014, (3): 293-310

Song, Wenling. [宋文玲]，是职业更是表白---Mrs. Warrens Profession中 Profession 的双关性. 大连名族学院学报，2013,（4）:415-417.

Talyor, Francis Group. TheVavasour in Bernard Shaws Mrs.Warrens Profession. TheExplicator 70 (2012): 175-178.

Wang, Xingwei. [王兴伟]，从会话分析看《华伦夫人的职业》中的人物关系和任务性格. 黑龙江教育学报， 2009，（3）：138-140

Xu, Qinfang. [徐磬芳]，论《华伦夫人的职业》中薇薇的代表的萧伯纳的新女性观. 安徽文学，2014，（1）：107

Zeng, Nianzhang. [曾念长]，华伦夫人-----近代欧洲女性文明的缩影. 福州大学学报（哲学社会科学版）， 2002，（2）：68-71

Zhang, Chunhui. [张春晖]，华伦夫人的职业的女性解读. 武陵学刊， 2013，（3）：108-110.

Zhang, Mingai. [张明爱]. 萧伯纳作品中的女性角色分析. 学苑颉英，2013（12）：134-136.

２．本课题要研究或解决的问题和拟采用的研究手段（途径）：

Research Topic

Feministcriticism gains great popularity among numerous writers besides the mostoutstanding playwright, George Bernard Shaw, ever since William Shakespeare.In 1893, Shaw wrote an impressive book, Mrs.Warrens Profession, studied by many scholars at home and abroad. The thesis sets a target that it willfind differences and similarities between Mrs. Warren and her daughter,Vivie, with the help of feminist theory and reveal Shaws great sympathy forwomen and contempt for the moral hypocrisy in Victorian era.

Research Methods

Major research methods will include documentresearch, contrast, deduction, and combination of theoretical research andtext study.

1)Document Research. Document Research refers to the process of collecting,reading, analyzing the previous academic paper of some definite works. Thewriter has turned to overwhelmingly numerous resources for help, includingacademic database and online materials. Thus, she gets a large number ofinformation, that is, feminist theory, Bernard Shaws play Mrs. Warrens Profession, Shawsbiographies, and previous studies on Mrs.Warrens Profession.

2) Contrast.Contrast, an vital tool in text analysis, is a logical way of distinguishingone thing from another so that people can conclude their differences andsimilarities. There being a lot of comparison and contrast in literaturereview, the author attempts to point out some eye-catching features andcreativity of the thesis. Contrast will also be widely used in main body toreveal differences and similarities between two major characters.

3)Deduction. It means that people draw a conclusion by serious reasoning. Forinstance, the thesis will conclude that Mrs. Warren who falls victim to thecruel society deserve our sympathy. What the author wants to place anemphasis on is that every conclusion is based on serious reasoning. So, theauthor will describe Mrs. Warrens miserable childhood and give convincingreasons for prostitution as her profession.

4) Combination of theoretical research andtext study. The thesis will deploy feminist theory to analyze Shaws Mrs. Warrens Profession and theauthor will study the text seriously.