From Goblin To Goddess-an Analysis Of Female Images In E.M.Forster’s Three Novels

The research focus of this thesis lies in the female images presented by thewell-known British novelist E.M. Forster in his works. From the perspective offeminism and humanism, this thesis takes a close textual analysis to explorecomprehensively the female images presented in the three novels written by Forster indifferent writing phases, namely, Where Angels Fear to Tread, A Room with a Viewand Howards End. Those female images could be categorized as three typologiesaccording to the creative writing periods of E.M. Forster: goblin images in prophase,semi-goblin and semi-goddess images in metaphase and goddess images in anaphase.Through a detailed and scrutinized analysis of those representative female imagesrespectively, this thesis examines the transformation process of the female imagespresented in Forster’s works, which undergoes the changes from ignorance toambivalence and to maturity, fully demonstrating Forster’s deep and humanisticsympathy for the female.At the beginning of this thesis, the author investigates Forster’s relationship withand attitudes towards women through Forster’s personal experiences and his ideal ofhumanism, then undertakes a critical survey of the researches about Forster’s worksthat are analyzed though feminist criticism home and abroad and finally introducesthe main construct of this thesis as well as its conclusions.The main content of this thesis explores respectively the three novels of Forsterthrough a close text analysis so as to survey the female images presented within,which could be analyzed by three levels, namely, goblin images, semi-goblin andsemi-goddess images and goddess images with the gradual development andimprovement process of those female images as its center. In this thesis, goblinimages represent the female group who is the accomplice or victim of patriarchyideology; semi-goblin and semi-goddess images stand for the female group whoseself-consciousness and identity is ambiguous and pendulous under the influence andpressure of the patriarchy society; goddess images represent the female group who advocates independent character and female emancipation, upholds human equalityand connection as well as practices humanistic love among all human beings,regardless of class and sex.In short, this thesis considers and analyses Forster’s presentations of women inhis three novels and, more profoundly, the changing understanding of what suchpresentation might involve, which is also the innovative sparkle of this thesis.Through a detailed analysis of the female characters in the three novels of E. M.Forster with feminism, Forster’s humanism and text analysis, the central argument ofthis thesis is that there is a development and leap process in Forster’s presenting thosefemale images, namely the goblin images, semi-goblin and semi-goddess images andgoddess images, as well as a conversion process of those female images stage bystage in their confrontation with patriarchal ideology and their growing sense offeminine consciousness and humanism, from which Forster’s deepest humanisticsympathy for the females are shown.