Decoding The Feminist Consciousness In The Heroine O-lan Of The Good Earth

Pearl S. Buck, as a controversial American woman writer, wrote many works about China and its people, especially those in the countryside. She is also a humanitarian and advocator of feminism in words and in deeds, though she herself has never admitted. In 1938, Mrs. Buck won the Nobel Prize, being the first female winner in America.Because of her special childhood in China and her cross-cultural works, the studies about Mrs. Buck and her works have never ceased since 30's of 20th century. The scholars in China do their research in different aspects, of which the study about the feminist consciousness in Mrs. Buck's works is of historic meaning, although a controversial one. The author, as a female reader, will choose such a respect to discuss the importance of Pearl S. Buck in the field of feminism. Since the brilliant success of The Good Earth makes it one of the most representative works in Mrs. Buck's life, the author will try to re-examine every plot about the heroine O-lan, to explore the stories deeply rooted in her experience and to understand her inner voice. Furthermore, the author will analyze or decode the latent feminist consciousness in her character. In the last part of the thesis, the author will compare two Chinese versions of the novel in view of their different focuses on the understanding about O-lan's character, which will work as a complementary proof to the analysis on the feminist consciousness in the heroine.This thesis does not attempt to give a comprehensive evaluation of Pearl S. Buck's literary works. Instead, it only analyzes objectively the authenticity of her description of Chinese women in long-term man-oriented society in the topical novel The Good Earth.