1、A Feminist Interpretation of The Sun Also RisesA Thesis SubmittedTo Foreign Language DepartmentOf College of Information The Sun Also Rises; Brett Ashley中原工学院信息商务学院本科毕业论文Table of ContentsAbstract (Chinese) . IAbstract (English) . II1. Introduction.2. Feminism and The Sun Also Rise.2.1 Feminism. . .2
2、.2 The Sun Also Rise. .3. An Analysis of the Liberation of Women in The Sun Also Rises.3.1 Two Reasons of the Liberation of Women .3.1.1 Spiritual Dependence on Men. . .3.1.2 Financial Dependence on Men. .3.2 Brett Ashleys Three Rebellions Actions .3.2.1 Fight against Traditional Conventions .3.2.2
3、Emphasis on Self-consciousness. .3.2.3 The Pursuit of Love and Happiness 4. An Analysis of the Outlet of Women in The Sun Also Rises. 5. Conclusion.Bibliography.Acknowledgements中原工学院信息商务学院本科毕业论文1. IntroductionErnest Hemingway(1899-1961), the prolific American writer, was awarded Nobel Prize in liter
4、ature in 1954. In 1926, Hemingways first and probably his most accomplished novel The Sun Also Rises was published, which made Hemingway stand out as an international celebrity because he grasped the social changes in America after World War I and succeeded in conveying the exact feeling of the lost
5、 generation in written form. The Sun Also Rises talked about the stories of the lost generation and unlike other Hemingways works, many tough man roles were created, but in the “The Sun Also Rises“, he produced a vivid female images-the main character “Brett Ashley” in his stories, through Brett Ash
6、ley, Hemingway interpreted the real world at that time with the understanding of womens social status and independence. In the 1950s, the study of The Sun Also Rises was in its infancy, and the importance of this work for this period is not enough. The Sun Also Rises was becoming popular in the 1970
7、s , where the image of the “Lost Generation“ which peoples loneliness with alcohol draw much attentions from all kinds of readers. In the 1980s, the study of The Sun Also Rises from the perspective of feminist was not as good as the 1970s, but was still slowly moved forward. Since the 1990s , a few
8、critics tried to interpret the works of Ernest Hemingway with the latest European and American contemporary critical theory. In the 1930s , Hemingways works were introduced to China , and gradually become popular among Chinese readers. In fact, in the early 1930s, Chinese scholars have come to concl
9、usion that The Sun Also Rises is the “ Lost Generation “ masterpiece. So this thesis is mainly talked about that with the development of womens liberation movement, womens position greatly changed and the traditional versions of masculinity were under acute threat, explore the outlet of the womens l
10、iberation movement through the respective of the feminist, and it was impossible for women to get real independence. Being harmonious with men can help the healthy growth of women.中原工学院信息商务学院本科毕业论文2. Feminism and The Sun Also Rise2.1 FeminismHundred years ago, womens social statue was quite low, wom
11、en was treated as appendage to men, they only had rights of living, their manner, speaking and behavior were regulated by a series of serious rules and discipline. With the education spreading among women and the awakening of the female self-consciousness, they came to realize that they should defen
12、d their economic, political and other rights and pursue equal treatment like men. Then there appear feminism. Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, cultural, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to
13、 establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. A feminist advocates or supports the rights and equality of women.First-wave feminism was a series of activities during the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. In the U.S.and U.K., it focused on promoting equal contrac
14、t, marriage, parenting, and property rights for women. However, by the end of the nineteenth century, activism focused mainly on gaining political power, particularly the right of womens voting, though some feminists were active in campaigning for womens sexual and economic rights at this time.Secon
15、d-wave feminism is a feminist movement beginning in the early 1960s and continuing to the 20th and it coexists with third-wave feminism. Second-wave feminism is largely concerned with issues of equality not only suffrage, but things like ending discrimination. Second-wave feminists treat womens cult
16、ural and political inequalities as its main purposes that to be deal with. During this period, feminist encourage women to understand aspects of their personal lives deeply by means of public promoting. Third-wave feminism is started from 1900 to the present. It arose as a response toward failures o
17、f the second-wave and also as a response to the movements created by the second-wave. Third-wave feminism often correct the second-waves ideas and movements that are not good for females. It accommodates contradictions; conflict 中原工学院信息商务学院本科毕业论文and changes. The third-wave has its origins in the mid
18、-1980. 2.2 The Sun Also RisesThe Sun Also Rises is a 1926 novel written by American author Ernest Hemingway about a group of American and British expatriates who travel from Paris to the Festival of San Fermn in Pamplona to watch the running of the bulls and the bullfights. An early and enduring mod
19、ernist novel, it received mixed reviews upon publication. It is recognized as Hemingways greatest work. The novel was published in the United States in October 1926 by the publishing house Scribners. A year later, the London publishing house Jonathan Cape published the novel with the title of Fiesta
20、. Since then it has been continuously in print.Hemingway began writing the novel on his birthday in 1925, finishing the draft manuscript barely two months later in September. After setting aside the manuscript for a short period, he worked on revisions during the winter of 1926. The basis for the no
21、vel was Hemingways 1925 trip to Spain. The setting was unique and memorable, showing seedy caf life in Paris, and the excitement of the Pamplona festival, with a middle section devoted to descriptions of a fishing trip in the Pyrenees. Hemingways spare writing style, combined with his restrained use
22、 of description to convey characterizations and action, became known as demonstrating the Iceberg Theory.The novel is a romance; the characters are based on real people of Hemingways circle, and the action is based on real events. In the novel, Hemingway presents his notion that the “Lost Generation
23、“, considered to have been decadent, dissolute and irretrievably damaged by World War I, was resilient and strong. Additionally, Hemingway investigates the themes of love, death, renewal in nature, and the nature of masculinity.3.An Analysis of the Liberation of Women in The Sun Also Rises3.1 Two Re
24、asons of the Liberation of Women3.1.1 Spiritual Dependence on MenBrett Ashley is a strong and independent woman. She has a short , masculine hair and masculine name. To certain extent, men want to control her, but they can not get a 中原工学院信息商务学院本科毕业论文full commitment from her.On the surface, this seem
25、s men in this novel needed her far more than she needs them. With no goals to guide their lives, they lost so they even attempted to gain physical and spiritual comfort from her. Indeed, Bretts independence is a problem. Although she refused to commit to any man, she still seemed uncomfortable being
26、 alone, trying to find a solution to save herself from her inner world.Thus, to a certain extent, Brett Ashley still dependent on men. She rely on Jack. For example, Jack still gives her emotional support. Although she refused to live with Jack Barnes, because of his incompetence , she still will tu
27、rn to Jack Brett to looking for comfort and help, because Jack was the only man she can pour her heart out .To forget the pain and suffering caused by the relationship between Jack, Brett may have been intended to find another way to escape from the harsh reality, it is clear that Cohn did not love
28、her , and she hopes this trip with Cohn could comfort her injuries heart. Therefore, she sexual liberation remains a big disadvantage, she still needs a man to feel good about yourself .Finally, although Brett does not like Mike at all , no longer believe in marriage, she decided to marry Mike, and
29、Mike is a constantly drunk Scottish veterans with a terrible temper and went bankrupt. Because when she was tired of drifting , she needs a man to get a traditional form of marriage to get a sense of security .3.1.2 Financial dependence on menIn terms of Brett s financial position, she never had any
30、 money, but she seemed not be very interested in money. In this novel, she refused to go with Count Mippipopolous even if he gave her ten thousand dollars, which is a big amount of money, and then in Paris. More importantly, when she made Romero leave her, Romero tried to give her a lot of money, bu
31、t she refused his offer, even though she had no single cent on her, because she gave all her money to the bankruptcy Mike. She might think if she accepted Romero s money, the feelings between them would be stained.However, Brett really need some money to afford her extravagant lifestyle, such as her
32、 modern clothes, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and regular travels. She 中原工学院信息商务学院本科毕业论文accepted the mans generosity, which seems to be quite common for her to let the men provide a comfortable life as the economy allows them to buy her a drink or give her hotel room and trave.In this sens
33、e, Brett Ashley is a traditional woman, seeking for a safe place from men. She assumed that men should pay for all her staffs and she deserve it. According to the traditional, it was gentlemen duty to pay the bill and the husbands responsibility to support their wivesAlthough Brett pursed independen
34、ce and equality with men, ironically, her thin income resulted in her dependence on men financially3.2 Brett Ashleys Three Rebellions Actions3.2.1 Fight against Traditional Conventions After World War I , the female role began to undergo a great transformation, from passive, private, to individualis
35、t of new experience. Local ethics were shocked to find that girls throwing off their restraints, tossing away their corsets and fleeing their country homes for jobs in cities. Instead of doing chores at home, women began to playing golf, driving a car, smoking, dancing, drinking in the bar. All of t
36、hese behaviour which challenges traditional social structures can be seen in the behavior of Lady Brett Ashley.Bretts short hair showed her modernity and her dress expressed her sexuality. Brett rejected the traditional feminine ideals of proper behavior. Moreover, Brett dared to step off the limita
37、tion and enter the public place without any reason but relaxation. The bar and the bullfight place were considered the places in which only men can existed and not the appropriate fields where women should stay. Women who came to such places like bars or bullfights would be considered disturbing or
38、without respect. She sparks chaos everywhere, if she came into the bar, the men drink too much and fight. Although Brett knew that coming to those places was not right, she totally rejected such a rule and did whatever she wanted. Once breaking with the traditional moral, Brett found it difficult fo
39、r her to go back or to find a right way to self-liberation and real independence. What Brett did was for finding the equality and liberty in the society and wanting to be the center of the pubic. Being watched by men, 中原工学院信息商务学院本科毕业论文she would feel flattered. It is obvious that Brett no longer defi
40、ned herself as a domestic being but a new womanIn the story, Cohn, Mike and Jake was surrounding Brett. However, Brett refused to commit to anyone of them，preferring remain independence. She ignored those mens feelingsShe can not be completely faithful to Mike，her fiance. Even though his injury mean
41、t they could not be together, she still swore she would love Jake, in fact, she can not help to hurting him by screwing with other men. In order to breaking the traditional morals and finding the real independence, Brett Ashley was unwilling to commit fully to any men who obsessed with her, even tho
42、ugh she had affairs with them. As a modern woman, Brett Ashley betrayed the traditional norms and had many affairs with men. She seemed like to enjoy freedom without any restriction. For Brett Ashley, having an affair with a man did not mean that she loved him nor wanted to marry him. Once she found
43、 she did not love that man，she would leave him without hesitation. When Jake mentioned again the possibility of them living together, Brett treated him as a kid who was just daydreaming. Maybe, to Brett marriage was a kind of burden that would destroy her independence. 3.2.2 Emphasis on Self-conscio
44、usnessIn the novel, Brett wanted to gain her self-identity, and she totally ignored the traditional morals about women and if she hurt some men, she would not feel anything about it. Jake and Brett deeply loved each other, but Brett refused Jakes request to live together, because she can not accept
45、the man she loved was impotence. Although Jake was not able to satisfy Bretts sexual need，Jake still was the only person Brett loved truly in the lost world. For her, Jake was the unreachable thing for her but still fulfill her dreams, so Brett cherished the relationship very much. She refused all t
46、he suggestion that made by Jake, because she knew that she was a bad woman and would surely destroy him if they did get togetherAlthough Brett Ashley had tried so hard to defend her self-identity sometimes even at the sacrifice of love, she had been educated in traditional values, which had been rooted in her mind. she found it difficult to wholly free herself of them. She felt
