An Analysis Of The Construction Of Female Subjectivity In Possession From The Perspective Of Feminism

Antonia Susan Byatt is a famous contemporary British novelist and critic,whose works mainly focus on women’s subjectivity and survival predicament.Her novel Possession was published in the 1990s and received wide acclaim,and occupies an important position in British literary history.This thesis,drawing on Beauvoir’s feminist thought,compares and analyzes the plight and resistance of women in the Victorian era and the late 20^th century in their pursuit of self-worth and independence,as well as the ways and outcomes of their dynamic construction of their own subjectivity.This thesis aims to show the development and change of feminism in different times,and the significance of women’s subjectivity for women.At the same time,this thesis finds that women’s subjectivity in Possession has both similarities and differences in different times.The similarity lies in that they are all in a patriarchal society and culture,and seek self-identification and self-liberation through writing,especially poetry,breaking through gender stereotypes and social constraints,showing the power and charm of women’s subjectivity.The difference lies in that they encounter different difficulties and resist in different ways.Victorian women are more oppressed and bound,their resistance is more covert and internal,their outcome is more tragic.Late 20^th century women have more opportunities and choices,their resistance is more open and external,their outcome is more optimistic.This thesis argues that Byatt explores the difficulties and challenges of women’s subjectivity,as well as the possibilities and hopes of women’s subjectivity,in a profound and complex way in Possession.This thesis consists of three parts:the introduction,the main body,and the conclusion.The introduction briefly introduces the author,the content of the novel,and a review of the relevant literature.The main body of the thesis is divided into three chapters.The first chapter analyzes the dilemmas faced by women in the novel in their pursuit of subjectivity and independence in a male-dominated society.The second chapter explores how women in Possession fight for female subjectivity by reshaping their discourse through writing diaries and letters to raise their voices;deconstructing male domination by being professional women;resisting male-centered culture and discourse by rewriting history;and realizing their self-worth by pursuing true love.Chapter three analyzes the results of women’s construction of their own subjectivity in Possession through Victorian La Motte and late 20^th century Maud.La Motte desires freedom,autonomy,and the pursuit of true love but is ultimately restricted and bound by society.Maud maintains her independence in life and in the workplace.After studying La Motte’s experience,Maud understands that career and family can be balanced and mutually reinforcing to achieve self-actualization.The conclusion summarizes the main ideas of the whole thesis and points out the main idea of the thesis:women in both eras struggled in a patriarchal society,but they ended up differently due to the differences in the eras,reflecting the history of women’s pursuit of subjectivity.Women in the Victorian era and the late 20^th century faced obstacles and resistance from the patriarchal society and culture in their pursuit of self-worth.Women in both times constructed their professional identity through writing,rewrote history,pursued true love and other ways,sought women’s subjectivity,broke away from the oppression and bondage of the patriarchal society,and realized their self-worth.However,due to the limitations of the times,La Motte,a Victorian woman,struggled for her own subjectivity,but ultimately failed.Maud,a late 20^th century woman,achieved success in literature and life,and broke away from the oppression and bondage of the patriarchal society.This thesis compares the development and change of feminism in different times,and the significance of women’s subjectivity.At the same time,this thesis also hopes to arouse attention to the plight of contemporary women,deepen the reflection on self-identity and family social harmony,inspire the true independence of today’s women,and provide a new perspective on the possibilities and complexities of women’s existence.