Narrative Analysis Of Gender Politics In The Golden Bowl

By applying narratology theories, this thesis studies the implication of genderpolitics in The Golden Bowl, one of the late novels of Henry James. The research ofgender politics based on narratology derives from the fusion of narratology and feminism.However, at the beginning the birth of this kind of research is not smoothly developed.The research method is also not commonly seen in recent decades when the westernfeminism develops fast. But with more and more realization of the innate weakness ofnarratology and application of feminist theories, this research method begins to grow.And nowadays when the great changes and development are taking place in feministnarratology, this method have already attracts more and more researchers all around theworld. So far, many scholars continue to combine the feminist theories and narratologyanalyzing model to explore the literature works both from narrative and readingperspectives. In China, scholars such as Shen Dan are the leading roles in this field.Objectively speaking, this method in domestic academic field is relatively novel.Researches based on this method are still less.The thesis attempts to work on the implication of gender politics in the novel—TheGolden Bowl. Based on narratology theories and separately starts from plot setting andfocalization of minor characters, this research collects related evidences from the noveland makes inductive reasoning and qualitative analysis.Through the research, the following can be explored. Firstly, in the aspect of plotsetting, the relationship between different characters reflects such a fact that the femalecharacters are in an unequal status. They have to compromise to save marriage and love,but the men have absolute authority and act as “rational” by-standers. Secondly, whenfocalizing on the minor characters of the novel, the hidden male-centered consciousnesscan be explored. That is, the implied author achieves his aim of satirizing the female byconcealing the voice of omniscient narrator and giving more space to let the femalecharacter make many shallow and silly comments.I hope this research is helpful to understand the novel from a new perspective. Meanwhile, it is hoped to provide some support to the theoretical research of feminismand narratology.