Self-Actualization:A Study Of Female Characters In Aurora Leigh Under Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs

Elizabeth Barrett Browning(1806-1861)is a British best-known woman poet in the Victorian Era.She finished her novel-in-verse Aurora Leigh in 1857.The novel-in-verse narrates the personal development of Aurora Leigh and her interactions with two other women from the different social background.At the end of the poem,she found the true meaning of life and art,and obtained self-actualization.Under Maslow's hierarchy of needs,this thesis analyzes the three women characters,Aurora Leigh,Lady Waldemar,and Marian Erle.It depicts the different processes of characters seeking self-actualization,as well as to comprehend the situations of individual needs and self-actualizations in female groups.This thesis comprises of seven sections.The introduction mainly gives a summary of Elizabeth Browning's life and works,reviews from international and domestic researches,expounds Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as well as the structure of the thesis.Chapter I demonstrates the framework of Maslow's theory,focusing on the hierarchy of needs and the theory of self-actualization.Chapter II beginning from the hierarchy of needs focuses on Aurora Leigh's personal growth and demonstrates her self-actualization.Chapter III centers on Lady Waldemar's scheme and confession,proofing that her self-actualization lacks the satisfaction of belongingness and love.Chapter IV explores the story of a fallen woman named Marian Erle:she devoted her life to her child and refused marriage but could not win respect and recognition even though she led an independent life.Chapter V investigates the meanings of "sewing" for different characters'needs,with the help of Maslow's theory,and analyzes the peak experience as well as the limitations existing in the self-actualizations in female groups.This thesis concludes the processions of three women's developments,pointing out different results of needs satisfied and self-actualizations.It exposes the characteristics and limitations,and complexity and inevitability of individual developments.It explores the theme of females in the Victorian era breaking social prejudice and obtaining acceptance.