Woman: A Constructed Being

Philip Roth is one of the most influential and prominent contemporary American novelists. His writing skills and thematic contents have drawn much attention of critics and scholars. He concerns human history and human living conditions in history and in the contemporary world. His themes are humanistic and realistic. The men protagonists in his works are all Jewish immigrants in America. They strive to earn a better life and win respect in American society. All women characters are Gentiles. Among them, only two are heroines in Roth's works, while others are non-protagonists. Whether heroines or not, they are one half of the society and human world. Thus they are considered and written in all Roth's works. Roth has noticed women's conditions in the world, their living environment, their suffering in the male dominated society, their oppressed position in the world, etc..American Pastoral also describes such women, and they are still non-protagonist females. In the male dominated society, they are destined to be silent, obedient and dependent. After decades of obeying life, they become aware and conscious of their oppressed situation, and struggle to get freedom. This is the historical process of women's awakening and is indicated in this novel. This thesis analyzes these female images in American Pastoral from the feminist perspective, observing their living condition in three generations represented by Sylvia, Dawn and Merry, their awareness of the subordinated position in family as well as in society, and their struggle and rebellion against the unequal reality.This thesis consists of five chapters:Chapter one gives a brief introduction of Philip Roth, his works, and the main themes of his novels. Then it comes to American Pastoral, the focus of this thesis, depicting the outline of the story and its position in literary circle.Chapter two analyzes the three-generation women and their position in American Pastoral in detail, and discusses the feministic vision of this novel ---- women's naturalized and socialized oppressed position in society. Chapter three analyzes women's awareness and their self-consciousness of their oppression as a whole class by tradition and the patriarchal society, and they try to break the fetter and improve their position. In the beginning, their resistance is passive, but it is a worthy step in realizing women's independence and freedom.Chapter four observes the new women of the younger generation. They grow up in luxurious and go-as-you-please material living conditions while they are more aware of their restriction and oppression than their poor mothers and grandmothers. So they take action violently to rebel the authority and establish their own identity in society.Chapter five concludes Roth's creative intentionality and his feministic vision revealed in this novel, especially indicated by the non-protagonist.