The Song Of The Pioneer Women

This thesis, mainly from feminist approaches, explores Carrier's concept of pioneer women's seeking, developing and fulfilling of the self on the frontier, traces women's self-development in the two famous novels: O Pioneers! and My Antonia, so as to analyze women's feminine power and influence.For one thing, this thesis examines pioneer women's seeking of the self. As women in the pioneer times, face the problem of survival on the prairie, they dig into man's sphere—the land, and achieve the ideal of self-identity. For another, it focuses on pioneer women's development of the self. As rigid social connections and concepts restrict women's autonomy and freedom; they must transform themselves and the world in order to survive. Lastly, it emphasizes pioneer women's fulfillment of the self. Through hardship, Willa Cather's protagonists have some common places that lead to their success.Pioneer women transform their environment with their outstanding traits. Pioneer women's struggling for more rights and trying to achieve self-fulfillment encourage one generation after another.