Elizabeth Gaskell's Construction Of The Identity Of Female Novelists In Life Of Charlotte Bront?

As a representative female novelist of the critical realism in the 19 th century,Elizabeth Gaskell was widely known for her social novels such as Mary Barton(1848),Ruth(1853),and North and South(1865).However,as the only biographical work,Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bront? is less known by the public.In fact,it has beenregarded as one of the greatest biographies in British literature and takes an outstanding status in the history of literature.As the symbol of the awakening of female consciousness of the nineteenth century,the British female literary creation during this period has been considered as an epoch-making milepost in the history of world literature and has become a very important research target in the circle of literature.Through the study of the characterization of Charlotte Bront?,a reputed female novelist in the 19 th century,in Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bront?,this paper attempts to explore the formation of female consciousness in women's literary creation and aims to examine the construction of the identity of female novelists from the perspective of feminism.By thoroughly studying Life of Charlotte Bront?,this paper tries to analyze the construction of the identity of female novelists from the description of details about Charlotte Bront?,a reputed novelist in the 19 th century.The analysis of the identity of female novelists,with Charlotte Bront? taken as the example,is made from two aspects.On one side,this paper tries to analyze the image of an “Angel” of females in domestic sphere and their self-contradictory psychology.It puts emphasis on exploring the due obligations that women undertake in the traditional family,and revealing that they felt as bound person in the inner part of their mind and wanted to escape from the family.On the other side,as a member of the society,a female writer has to play her social role such as acting as a sympathizer,revealing as a protester,functioning as an advocator in the social sphere.Therefore,the paper presents the image of females as a prolocutor in social sphere.In the hope of seeking a balance between the gap of feminism and patriarchy,Gaskell cherishes that the combination of femininity and masculinity could be realized.With the help of Showalter and Woolf's Theory of Feminism,through the analysis of the construction of the identity of female novelists,this paper illustrates that female writers should fulfill the social obligation historical mission as a social member while well performing the duty of a family member.In the end,the paper draws the conclusion that Gaskell's construction of the identity of female novelists is fulfilled through the ideal combination of femininity and masculinity.Therefore,the study of Life of Charlotte Bront? assists further understanding and comprehension of researching on Elizabeth Gaskell and Charlotte Bront? and their works.And the present study is of great practical significance in improving gender equality and building a harmonious society.