A Study Of The Images Of Women In Lisa See’s Novels

By adopting Feminist Critical Theory, this thesis embarks from the special cultural background of Chinese American female writer Lisa See, it analyzes two typical images of women from each historical period in the novel. Then it focuses on researching the women how to make different choices when they under the patriarchal in different political and cultural background, so as to reveal the deep cultural connotation by the images of women.This paper is divided into five parts. The preface part mainly illustrates the main purpose of this study, the status quo of Chinese American literature and the current research on Lisa See’s works in domestic and foreign areas.In the first chapter,it analyses Lisa’s proud family history and special feelings for China, which make the Chinese women written by her with unique charm. In the chapter 2, it argues women who are in a silent situation without the right of speech under the control of male hegemony in the feudal society. Through the ancient drama, adolescent girls accepted the enlightenment education of love, but due to the oppression of the feudal system,they didn’t have right to choose marriage, eventually they died of hungry and depression. It’s sad and sorrowful about the fate of the silence "other". In the chapter 3,it discusses the women from the 30 s and 40 s, bases on the western feminist movement who clamors for the equality between men and women. Leaded by the people of insight,great progress has been made in the status of Chinese women. Lisa See created a typical sisters during this period and explored the cultural choice of Chinese immigrants. In the chapter 4, it selects the women after the founding of new China, this chapter mainly discusses the women how to establish their self-awareness, and how to make their choices under the situation of policy support and the helpless reality. The national policy supports and protects the rights of women during this period, but it’s still state of exploring. Liu Hulan is the female who closes to the reality women. As a female prosecutor with an enviable "red" background, she doesn’t need to rely on men. With her own power she can negate the male hegemony. This should be a figure of characters in the ideal type written by Lisa.Lisa See attempts to build images of women in an objective way, grabbing the background era of China she presents a variety of female images from feudal society to the reform and opening society. These rich and real images of women reject the patriarchal and restore the authenticity of women through their real life. As a ChineseAmerican authoress who grown up in a big Chinese family, the images of women in her works mixed with two different cultures. She uses benevolence and humility which are essences in Chinese traditional culture, and self-reliance which is essence in American culture, which provide a psychological support to the female vulnerable groups.