| Anna Quindlen(1953—) is a famous American woman writer who has acquired a distinctive position in the contemporary literature. She is skilled at depicting the ordinary life of ordinary people and presenting their experiences with her wisdom and keen insight. Her accomplishments won her the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992. Black and Blue, published in 1998, is her masterpiece. Since its publication, this novel has aroused much attention and enjoys a high reputation in the American literary world. However, little research has been done into this book in China. Up to the present, only one paper has been found, discussing the artistic techniques used in the novel. This thesis, based on feminism, makes an attempt to go into the difficult living situation of the heroine in the modern society.In this novel, Anna Quindlen narrates the life, emotion and hope of the heroine Frances with her broad mind, exposes the women’s sufferings from men in the contemporary society and reveals the importance of women’s self-seeking and self-construction. Starting from feminism, the thesis analyzes the heroine’s terrible survival plight and dilemma under domestic violence in the modern society which is supposed to advocate individual liberation and independence. It illustrates the present situation of women who are still oppressed by the traditional patriarchal culture. The thesis lays an emphasis on the theme of women’s pursuit of their own value and rights and the importance of constructing an equal and harmonious male-female relationship.This thesis consists of six parts.The Introduction part starts with Anna Quindlen’s personal life and her literary achievements, goes on to the outline of the novel, and then makes a research review on the Black and Blue from at home and abroad, and finally briefs the feminist theory that is to be used in the thesis.Chapter One focuses on the exploration of the domestic violence done to the heroine Frances, a professional woman in the contemporary society. She is maltreated by her husband, whose violent abuse and distorted love leave her in great anguish both physically and mentally.Chapter Two analyzes Frances’ attitudes towards the mistreatment in her patriarchal family. Under the oppression of her husband, Frances keeps silent and tolerant, and tries to conceal her miserable situation from her relatives and friends. Her concealment worsens her plight and also makes her become “the other”.Chapter Three discusses Frances’ plight in the alien environment. With the awakening of self-consciousness, Frances decides to resist. She manages to escape from home with her son, and come to a remote small town, where she has to hide her real identity in the alien environment and lives in constant fear of being found by her husband. Obviously, her escapist policy as a way of resistance fails to help her to get out of the predicament.Chapter Four analyzes the root causes for her plight. On one hand, after hundreds of years of feminist movement, the patriarchal ideology still lingers on, continuing to oppress women’s mind and body. On the other hand, Frances gains economic independence, but she does not know clearly how to perform the duties of both a professional woman and a housewife. Harmonious relationship between husband and wife can only be established through mutual respect and understanding. Besides, it is not a good policy for a woman to escape from home when faced with domestic problems.The thesis draws such a conclusion: Frances is not alone in being mistreated. Although many women have gained economic independence, they are still under men’s oppression and domination in the modern society, thus, faced with greater survival pressure. Their situation deserves attention from the public. Meanwhile, the novel conveys us such a message: women like Frances shouldered with both work and family can not evade family conflicts; they must learn how to balance profession and family. Only through a harmonious coexistence as husband and wife, can professional women get out of the plight. |
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