The Protracted But Hopeful Breakout

Shakespeare, Charlotte Bronte, Virginia Woolf and Margaret Drabble, portrayfour distinguished females—Portia, Shirley, Lily and Kate in their The Merchant ofVenice, Shirley, To the Lighthouse and The Middle Ground respectively. Based on thedevelopment of the western feminist movement, this thesis analyzes four femalecharacters seek their identity in society through breaking through their own survivalsituation and challenging the traditional value and rules. In the protracted and hopefulbreakout, they also experience female consciousness' continuity and evolvement. Thefour females are making efforts to probe their social identity during the period ofrising feminism. The process of exploration is protracted but hopeful.The thesis is structured as follows:The introduction gives account of the development of the feminist movement andinfluence on society and females. Chapter one points out that Portia and Shirleyembody their independent consciousness and rebellious spirit in the process ofseeking their happiness in marriage. But their female consciousness is only earlyfemale awakening in the family; their disillusionment of seeking social identity islimited. Chapter two states during the first-wave feminism, females have alreadyrealized the importance of self-development and self-fulfillment through Lilyportrayed by Virginia Woolf. Females' identity in society can be embodied throughestablishing their careers. But their challenges are helpless. Chapter three analyzesduring the second-wave feminism, Kate Armstrong characterized by MargaretDrabble is a woman of multiple identities. Kate gets rid of her crisis from society,career and marriage through her persistent breakout in survival situation. Theconclusion illustrates females are gradually walking up to more wide social stagefrom the early domestic stage, from individual life to social function. With socialdiversity, females should survey the past and face the future with strong courage andenthusiasm. Female collective consciousness and the spirit of identity are presentingin political, economic and social status. Although females' journey is protracted, theirbreakout is hopeful. In the course of establishing their own self-value and promisingfuture, they can break away from all kinds of crises and find their own positions.