人格結(jié)構(gòu)理論視域下《太陽照常升起》中的新女性形象分析-英語專業(yè)

ContentsAbstract .Introduction1.1ResearchBackgroundTheSunAlsoRises,thefirstnovelbytheAmericanwriterErnestMillerHemingway,waspublishedin1926.Itissetinthehistoricalperiodfrom1924to1925inthefamouscityofParis.1920swasatimeofcomprehensiveeconomic,socialandculturaltransformation.AftertheFirstWorldWar,rapidindustrializationandurbanizationbroughtintenseturmoilandaspiritofchaos,andthesoundoflivelyhustleandbustlecouldbeheardeverywhere.TheSunAlsoRisesisamultifacetedmodernnovelthatreflectstheseriousphysical,psychologicalandethicaldamagecausedbythewarto“TheLostGeneration”.This“crystallizedemotionalnovel”doesnotwinbyplot,butbyshowingtheprofoundchangesinthelifestyleandvaluesofthisgeneration,bygivingventtotheiremotions,byshowingtheircomplexandcontradictorymentalityandpsychologicaldevelopment,andbydirectlyexpressingtheirunderstandingoftheworld.Allthedreams,beliefsandinnocenceofthisgenerationhavebeenshatteredbythewarandthecrueltyofreality,andtheytastetheirinnerdespairandsorrowinunrestrainedalcoholismandindulgence.ThisnoveldepictsBarnes,ayoungAmericanmanwhoiswoundedinthespineandloseshissexualityinWorldWarI.Afterthewar,hefallsinlovewithBrettwhileworkingasajournalistinParis.BrettisabeautifulEnglishcross-dresserwhohasbeendivorcedtwice.AlthoughshealsolikesBarnes,sheisreluctanttobewithhim.Becauseitmeansgivingupsexualgratification.Sheseekspleasurewholeheartedly,leavinghimtogrieve.AtthebullfightingfestivalinSpain,BrettrejectsthebitteradvancesoftheyoungJewishmanCohen,butbecomesinfatuatedwiththenineteen-year-oldbullfighterRomero,withwhomsheiswillingtoelope.However,afterspendingsometimetogether,theloveaffairendsbadlybecauseoftheagedifferencebetweenthetwosides.AndBrettcouldnotbeartoruintheinnocentyoungman’sfuture,andcouldnotaccepttochangeforRomero.BretteventuallyreturnstoBarnes,althoughitiscleartobothpartiesthattheycouldnevertrulybeunited.Brettisfashionablyautonomous,butdoesnotseemtoderivetruehappinessfromherindependence.Herlife,likethatofmanyofherpeers,isfullofconfusionandregret.Gorgeousontheoutside,sheisalsoconfusedbythepainofthewar,andisherselfavictimofit.1.2ResearchAimsandMethodsSetintheaftermathofWorldWarI,thenoveltellsthestoryofBrett,atwice-divorcedEnglishsocialitewhoistornbetweenthreemenandlivesintheshadowofthewarwiththem.Sheisataforkintheroadofherlifeandremainsconfusedandregretfuldespitethechoicesshehasmade.ThispaperattemptstoanalyzetheunderlyingspirituallogicofBrett’slifechoicesfromFreud’spsychoanalysis,usingthetriplepersonalitystructuretheoryofid,egoandsuperegotoexplorewhatkindofnewfemaleimagesheembodiesandthereasonsforsuchanimage.Thispaperisbasedonpreviousresearchandliterature.ByreviewingthecurrentstateofresearchonTheSunAlsoRises,itispossibletodevelopamorecomprehensiveandpertinentunderstandingoftheissuestobestudiedinthetext.Inaddition,thispapercombinestextualanalysiswiththestudyoftheissuetogainadeeperunderstandingofthevalueofthestudy.Intheend,wewillanalyzetheformationofBrett’snewfemaleimagefromtheperspectiveofpersonalitystructuretheoryandgaininsightsfromit.1.3SignificanceofThisResearchlookingatvarioushumanandsocialissuesandinterpretingvariousliterarytextscanpromoteadeeperunderstandingofhumanpsychologicalandbehavioralissuesinthecontemporaryworld.Thecentralconcernremainsthecharacter.Thetheoryofpersonalitystructureholdsthatwithinthepersonalitystructure,thetwo,theegoandthesuperego,arealwaysinaprocessofmutualcontradiction,struggleandconflict,andthisconflictisregulatedbytheegosoastobeinaunifiedwhole.Personalityisformedanddevelopedthroughtheconflict,struggleandbalanceamongtheego,thesuperegoandtheid.Personalityisgeneratedbyinternaldrives,behavioralmechanisms,andinterpersonalrelationships,whichareconstantlychangingforeachindividual.ThestoryandexperienceofBrettinthisnovelispreciselythestorythatrevolvesaroundherandthethreemaleprotagonistsinthetext.Onatheoreticallevel,thisstudycanenrichthestudyofthenovelTheSunAlsoRisesandthepracticabilityofpersonalitystructuretheoryinthefieldofliterature.Hemingwaydoesnotglossoverthespiritualdilemmasandnewtragediesfacedbyfemaleofhistime,butdirectlydisclosesher.Withauniqueanddispassionategaze,heexaminesthepsycho-historicalchangesandtheevolutionoffemale’sspirituallife,andreflectsonthespiritualplightofcontemporaryfemale.Thedesolationanddestructionofthespiritualdimensionisindeedafact,andthefirstthingthatneedstobereflecteduponisnotonlysocietyandhistory,butalsoone’sownlifeandmeaning.Inadditiontoraisingthebannerofidealsandrationalityintheageofmaterialabundance,itisnecessarytoexplorepeople’slivesandmeanings.Intheageofmaterialabundance,thestatusofwomenhasimprovedcomparedtothepast,butwomenhaveencounterednewproblems,especiallyinthespiritualworldofwomen.Thereismorespacefordiscussiononhowtobreakfreefromtheshacklesofthetimes,howtopassonwomen’ssparklefromgenerationtogeneration,andhowtoimprovewomen’sself-awareness.2.PreviousStudiesofTheSunAlsoRisesatHomeandAbroad2.1PreviousStudiesofTheSunAlsoRisesAbroadHemingway’sTheSunAlsoRisesiswidelyregardedinforeignscholarshipasaclassicinthehistoryofmodernAmericanfiction.Fromthenovel’sinceptionin1926tothepresent,criticalstudiesofthenovelhavecontinuedtodeepen.Beforethe1980s,scholarsstudiedthenovel’sthemes,characters,andnarrativestructurefromtheperspectivesofthenovel’srelationshipwith“TheLostGeneration”andthewriter’spersonalexperienceofexile.Sincethe1980s,scholarshavemadeuseofthericherbiographiesofwriters,culturalcriticismtheories,andnarrativestudiestoachievericherandmorediverseresearchresults.Atthesametime,thestudyofthenovel’sfemaleprotagonisthasalsobeenprogressive.The

evaluation

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Brett

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Foreign

scholars’

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her

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changing.Sinceitspublication,negativereviewsofBretthaveprevailed.

In

1941,EdmundWilsoninterpretedBrettasadestructiveforce.His“bitch”interpretationremainedunchallengedforfortyyears(Fan,2009:102).Andintheearly1950s,CarlosBakerclaimedthatshewas“objectively”an“alcoholicnymphomaniac”(Gu,2014:134).The“Circe”commentcontinuedintothe1980s,whenCarolH.SmiththoughtBrettwasanalcoholicnymphomaniac.SmithconsideredBrettwasoneofHemingway’sbadwomen(WangandXu,2000:35).After1980,criticsbegantoworktomoveBrettAshleyawayfromthestereotypicalbadwoman.In1994,NancyR.ComleyandRobertScholesinterpretedBrett’scomplexityfromagenderperspective,arguingthatHemingwaygaveherbothpositiveandnegativecharacteristicstraditionallyassociatedwithbothsexes(Fan,2009:103).Feministcriticsfromthe1980stothelastdecadeconsideredBretttobeaverycomplexcharacter.Theirattitudetowardherwaslargelypositive,oratleastsympathetic.Asearlyas1980,LindaWagner-Martin,afeministwriterandauthorofthebookin1987,WagnerexpressedhersympathyforBrett,sayingthatBrettwasclearlyapositive,courageousperson.Animaginative,caringheroinewhowasclearlyavictimofwarinmanywaysin1987.WendyMartinin1987andSibbieO’Sullivanin1988sawBrettasthe1920sNewWoman.In2002,KathyWillinghamspokepositivelyofBrett’scourageindefiningherownstandardsandassertingher“trueself”asarolemodelforwomenandasamajorcharacterinthenovel(Ren,2009).In2007,HaroldBloomemphasizedtheimportanceofBrett,sayingthatifBrettweretakenawayfromthenovel,thevitalitywouldbelost(Ren,2009).2.2PreviousStudiesofTheSunAlsoRisesatHomeTheChina’searliestcriticismofTheSunAlsoRiseswasin1934.YeLingfengpublished“HemingwayasAShortStoryWriter”inaspecialissueof“TheModernAmerican”whichisthemostinfluentialAmericanliteraryjournalofthe1930s(Ren,2009).ThiswasthefirstarticleinChinatodiscussHemingway.YedefinesBrettAshleyasa“nymphomaniac”.BecauseJackcouldnotcompletethephysicalloveduetowarinjuries,Brett,inordertosatisfyhissexualdesire,builtrelationshipswithothermeninthesamegrouptohavesexonebyone.Ashley’schangeinacceptancereflectstheinstinctiverejectionoftraditionalChinesecultureasitcollideswithamoreliberalforeignculture.Afterthefirstassessment,thepopularityofTheSunAlsoRisesinChinastagnatedfor50yearsuntilthefirstChinesetranslationofthenovelwaspublishedin1984.However,criticismofBrett’smoraldepravityprevailedinChinaduringthe1980sand1990s,andin1985,theHistoryofForeignLiterature,editedbyZhuWeizhiandZhaoLi,gaveanegativeassessmentoftheprotagonistofTheSunAlsoRises.TheeditorsclaimedthatinthespiritualwastelandafterWorldWarI,thenovel’sJack,Brettandothershadcompletelylostthepurposeandmeaningoftheirlives(Fan,2009:103).Theywerefilledwithasenseofemptinessandconfusion.Theywerelivinginchaos,noonewasawake,andeveryonewasbehavingbadly.ThisjudgmentmakesBrettarepresentativeofthe“l(fā)ostgeneration”(Ren,2009).Althoughtheeditorsmentionthewar,theyfailtonotethatitisindeedthecauseofthecharacters’badbehavior.3.TheoreticalFramework3.1HistoricalDevelopmentofthePersonalityStructureTheory3.1.1Two-partPersonalityStructureTheoryFreud’searlypersonalitystructurewasatwo-partstructureofunconsciousandconscious,withtheunconsciousbeingthemainfocus.Initially,Freudbelievedthatthepersonalitystructurewascomposedoftwolevels:theunconsciousandtheconscious(Zhang,1998:82).Freudemphasizedthathumanmentalprocessesaremainlyunconscious,whileconsciousprocessesarederivedfromtheunconsciousones,butbecauseitsconsciouslayeralsoincludesthepreconsciouslayer,Freudactuallydividedpersonalityintothreelevels:unconscious,preconsciousandconscious(2012:13).Theunconscious,orsubconscious,isthepartFreuddiscussedmostandwasthecoreofhisearlytheoryofpersonalitystructure.AccordingtoFreud,theunconsciousisthemainaspectofmentalactivity,theinner,hidden,deeppartofthepersonthatheorsheisnotconsciousof(1921:65).Theunconsciousisthedeepfoundationofthepsycheandtheinnerdriveofhumanactivity,whichgovernshumanaction.3.1.2Three-partPersonalityStructureTheoryInthelateperiod,Freudproposed“three-partpersonalitystructure”inEgoandId(1923:6),whichconsidersthepersonalityasawhole,consistingofthreeparts,namelytheego,theidandthesuperego(Song,2010).Thesethreepartsinfluenceeachotherandhavedifferentdominanteffectsonindividualbehavioratdifferenttimes.Thethree-foldpersonalitystructureisbasedonthetheoryoftheunconscious,whichconstructsacompletemodelofpersonality,showingthegrowthoftheindividualpersonfrominstinctsanddesirestosocialattributesandcivilizationalsigns.3.2The Id,theEgoandtheSuperegoTheidisthemostprimitivepartofthepersonalitystructure.Theidconsistsofgeneticinstincts,desires,suchashunger,thirst,andsex,andthephysicalbodyisitssourceofenergy(Freud,2011:18).Theonlyfunctionoftheidisthedirectreleaseofmentalenergyorreductionoftensionandtheresultingsatisfactionofpleasure.Ithasnonotionofrightandwrongindemandingsatisfaction,anddoesnotconsidermoralconstraints.Thisfunctionoftheidfulfillsthefirstprincipleoflifeandpleasure.Theegoisthestructuralpartofconsciousness(Freud,2011:31).Itistherationalpartofhumanbeing,ofteninbetweentherealdemandsofsociallife,themoralpursuitofthesuperegoandthepursuitofinterests,reconcilingthecontradictionsaccordingtotheprinciplesofreality,lookingforexpediencyasmuchaspossible,beingthedecision-makerofthefinalbehavioroftheindividual,sometimesmanagingtheego,sometimesobeyingthesuperego.Thesuperegoconsistsoftheego-idealandconscience,whichrepresentsthemoralstandardsofsocietyandisthejudicialbranchofthepersonalitydevotedtomorality(Song,2010:9).Thesuperegoisamoralizedegothatisseparatedfromtheegoandisatthehighestlevelofthepersonality.Itisformedgraduallybytheeducationoftheindividualinthesocialandculturalmoralnormsinlife.Thesuperegofollowsthe“principleofthehighestgood”,supervisesandcontrolstheactivitiesoftheego,andguidestheego.3.3RelationshipsoftheTripartitePersonalitiesFreudbelievesthatthesuperegoisasnon-realisticastheid,andthattheegohoversbetweentheidandthesuperego,satisfyingtherequirementsoftheidontheonehandandregulatingtheintegrationofmentalactivitiesontheother(Zhang,1998:84).Freudvividlycomparestheinterdependentandconflictingrelationshipsamongtheid,theegoandthesuperegowith“oneservantandthreemasters”:Theproverbtellsusthatonecannotservetwomastersatonce.Thepooregohasastillhardertimeofit;ithastoservethreeharshmasters,andhastodoitsbesttoreconciletheclaimsanddemandsofallthree.Thesedemandsarealwaysdivergentandoftenseemquiteincompatible;nowonderthattheegosofrequentlygiveswayunderitstask.Thethreetyrantsaretheexternalworld,thesuper-egoandtheid.Whenonewatchestheeffortsoftheegotosatisfythemall,orrather,toobeythemallsimultaneously,onecannotregrethavingpersonifiedtheego,andestablisheditasaseparatebeing.(Freud,1990:56)Consideringtheegoasapartoftheidchangesduetothedegreeofproximitytotheexternalworldandtheinfluenceoftheexternalworldonit.Theegotakesoverthetaskofrepresentingtheexternalworldoftheidandcannotescapedestructionifitblindlystrivestosatisfyitsinstinctsandcompletelyignoresthepredominanceofexternalforces.Theegomustobservetheexternalworld,itcontrolsthepathofgainingmomentum,butitinsertstheelementofthoughtbetweendesireandaction,itabolishesthepleasureprinciple,itexertsinfluenceontheprocessesoftheegoandreplacesitwiththerealityprinciple.

4.AnalysisoftheHeroineinTheSunAlsoRisesfromthePerspectiveofPersonalityStructureTheory4.1TheIdofBrettAshleyTheidistheoriginalself,whichcontainsthebasicdesires,impulsesandvitalitynecessaryforsurvival.Theidactsaccordingtotheprincipleofpleasure,itdoesnotcareaboutsocialmorality,externalnormsofbehavior,itsonlyrequirementistoobtainpleasureandavoidpain,thegoaloftheidistoseekthecomfortoftheindividual,survivalandreproduction,itisunconsciousandunawareoftheindividual.Theheroineofthenovel,Brett,isawomanwithadifficultfate.SheworksasawarnurseinWorldWarI.Thewartakesherhusband’slife,andthetraumaofthewarandthehardshipsoflifemakeherpsychologicallyandbehaviorallydistorted.Sheindulgesherselfandgoaroundbetweennumerousmenasawaytonumbherselfandforgetherpain.Hemingway’sattitudetowardsBrettAshleyiscomplex.Ontheonehand,hedislikesthechaosofBrett’sprivatelife;ontheotherhand,hesympathizeswithhertragicsituation.BrettAshleylosesherhusbandinthewar,andthetraumaofwarandthecrueltyoflifemakesitimpossibleforhertoadjustherpersonallifestyleintheturbulentpost-warsociety.Sheattemptstorelieveherinnerpainbylivinganeasylife,thusmakingheraimlessinbothreallifeandemotions.Inherlife,sheseemstolivefreelybyhangingoutinbars,shoppingmalls,smoking,drinking,andflirtingwithmen.Herindulgenceinlifealsoreflectsheremotionalemptiness.Thewartakesawayherloveranddestroysherromanticdreams.Shebeginstomovearoundamongmenandbecomingasocialite.SheseemstobeinlovewithJackBarnes,butshefeelsveryfrustratedandpainfulbecauseofJack’ssexualimpotence.Shesuffersfromthisseparationofthespiritandthebody,andheformsastateofimprobableseparation.Intheboredom,shecanalsobewithherunlovedandevendisgustedRobertCohen.Cohenalsohasanightofflirtation.SheisengagedtoMike,butdoesnotlikehiscynicismandalcoholism.HecouldbeagoodcompanionforBrett,theycoulddrink,smoke,danceandtraveltogether,butshedoesn’tlovehim.Whatshecravesisawild,masculinelove,alovethatisspirituallyandphysicallysatisfying.ThenovelissetinParis.DuringheryearsinParis,Paulettehasheardandseenallaspectsoflifeinthe“capitaloffashion”,thecityanditswayoflife.ItisherethatBrettmakesfriendswithmanywealthypeople,whichhasaprofoundeffectonher.ManyofthewomenthatBrettcomesintocontactwithhaveamoreopenviewofsexuality.Sheisdeeplyinfluencedbythesewomenandslowlypicksupsomebadhabits.Sheaspirestoliveanextravagantlife,which,inheropinion,representingahighsocialstatus.Shespendsmostofherfreetimeattendingthevarioussocialballsandpartiesshelikes.Travelingaroundtheworldwithhermalefriendsalsobecomesherhobby,allshewantstodoistohavefunandenjoyherself.Infact,BrettistheepitomeofsomeParisianwomen.TheinfluenceoffeministsonsexualpracticesandsocialnormsisalsoreflectedinthecharacterofBrettAshley.4.2TheEgoofBrettAshleyTheego,alsoknownasself-awarenessorself-concept,isanindividual’sperceptionofhisorherstateofbeing,includingphysicalstates,mentalstates,interpersonalrelationships,andsocialroles.Brettcanbeconsideredarepresentativeofmodernwomen.Sheisnotonlyfashionable,butalsoshowsthetrendofmaleattire.Brett’sappearancecanbedescribedasafigurativeportrayalofherownego.HemingwaydescribesBrett’shairasresemblingthatofaboy.Itisclearthatthismasculinehairstyleofherswasindeedanexpressionofpersonalindependenceofconductinthosedays.Andherfemininitydisappearedfromherappearance.Brett’sshapingofherappearancecomesfromtheawakeningofhersenseoffemalesubjectivity.Becauseofwomen’slong-standingsecondarysocialstatus,traditionalwomenhavebeensociallyconditionedtolook,thinkandactsoftly,harmlesslyandmeekly,withtheaimofpleasingmen.ForBrett,whohasawakenedtoasenseofsubjectivity,heregourgeshertobreakfreefromthisshackle.Thus,sherefusestopleaseothers,wantingtogaindominanceandsocialstatusequaltothatofmen.Brett’sappearanceisactuallyaparodyofsomemoviestarsandadvertisingstars,whichreflectsthesurgingwaveofwomen’smovementinhertime.Someadvertisementsandmagazinesalsolikedtousefashionablewomenwithshorthairandcigarettesasmodels,revealinganewtrendinsociety’sexpectationofwomen’simage.ThissocialenvironmenthasacertaininfluenceonwomenlikeBrett.Theythinkthatsuchanimageissexy,rebelliousandhasafatalattractiontomen.Indeed,Brett’sfashionandglamourattractedcountlessmenandmadethemfallintoherclutches.Sheisoverthirty,butsheisstillthecenterofmen’sattention.Almostallthemeninthenovelfallinlovewithher.WhenJackseesher,hecan’thelpbutfeelherbeauty.Cohen,herardentsuitor,marvelsathercharmandfashion,andfallsinlovewithheratfirstsight,unabletostophimself.Mike,ontheotherhand,oftengotdrunkforher,andRomero,thebullfighter,alsofellinlovewithher.Inthepost-warera,Brett’sfashionableappearancewassodifferent.Thisdifferencewasadistinctivefeatureofherera,whichwasundergoinggreatchange.Brett’segowaseagertoshine,tobeunique,tobestar-struck.Yet,withintheconstraintsoftherealworld,itseemsasifthisquestofherscanonlyberealizedinmen.Herself-consciousnessdriveshertotaketheinitiativetoshapeherownimage,andatthesametime,herself-consciousnessissubliminallyinspiredbytheuniqueenvironmentofthetimes.Guidedbyherself-consciousness,Brettpresentsherselfasoneofthe“NewAgewomen”.Sheisdriventolivealifeofluxury,enjoyingmovingfrommantoman,andalwayswanttobedifferentasawaytoshowherindividuality.Forher,shebelievesthatawoman’spersonalityismuchmoreimportantthanherbeauty,beautifulassheis.Hersenseofselfdriveshertopursuetherealizationofherself-worth,whichtherealworlddoesnothave.Unabletotrulygainequaldominanceandequalopportunitiestorealizeherself-worth,Brettchoosestofocusonspeakingaboutherappearanceandbehaviortoshapeherintoanidealself-image.4.3TheSuperegoofBrettAshleyThesuperegoistheinternalizationofsocialnorms,ethicsandmorals,andvalues.InFreud’stheoryofpersonalitystructure,thesuperegonotonlycontainsthemoralconsciencepart,butactuallyincludestheegoideal,whichcorrespondstothevaluestandardofbehaviorsetbytheindividualforhimself.Brettisawomanwhoisverycommittedtohisvaluesandpursuits.Althoughshehashadaffairswithmultiplemen,whentheCountoffers$10,000offforaweekendwithanearl,Brettrefuses.Shewouldnotsellherselfformoney.BrettmeetsRomero,ayoung,handsome,braveSpanishbullfighterwhoenthrallsBrettwithhisspectacularperformancesandhiscalmnessinthefaceofdanger.Brettreallycomesacrossthetruelovesheislookingforintheroundabout.Shefallsinlovewiththismanlyman.However,afteramonthorsoofmadness,sherealizesthatsheisnotrightforRomeroandthatshewillruintheyoungman’slife.Outofadiscoveryofconscience,sheisunwillingtogothroughwithbeingabadpersonwhotramplesonyoungmen.Shedoestheboldestandmostadmirablething:shegivesupherloveforRomero.“I’mnotgoingtobeoneofthesebitchesthatruinschildren.”AfterleavingRomero,atatimeofemotionalloss,BrettsortsoutJackaccompanieshertodinner,breaksherheartandrelievesherloneliness.Twopeoplewhoobviouslyloveeachotherbutcan’tunite.Bretthasherownunderstandingoftheworld.Shewantstoescapefromhercurrentsufferingandoncelookingtoreligiousbeliefsandnaturetofindmeaninginherexistence,yetbothareunsuccessful.Shedesiresfreedomsomuchthatsheskillfullymaneuversamongmeninordertoseekspiritualsolace.4.4BrettAshley:TheNewWomanAfterWorldWarⅠBackinthe19thcentury,Americansocietywasdividedintotwocamps,themalecampandthefemalecampontheonehand,societyrequiredmentocontributeandcreatesocialvalue.Ontheotherhand,womenwererequiredtorelyonmen,toputfamilyfirst,tobeabsolutelyloyalandsubmissivetomen,andtobeagoodwifeandamother.Inthissocialcontext,womeninevitablybecomethesecondsexofsociety,seenassubordinatetomenandtreatedasprivatepropertybymen.Womenwereexpectedtobedevoted,docile,andfaithful.However,inthe1920s,thischanged.AfterWorldWarI,thefeministmovementwasinfullswinginParis.Moreandmorewomencameoutofthehousetostudyandworkinsociety,justlikemen.Womenbecamemoreindependentandautonomousthantheyhadbeeninthepast.Withthechangeofwomen’ssocialstatus,agroupof“NewAgewomen”emerged.Forexample,Brett,unliketheconservativelydressedwomenofthepast,“NewAgewomen”woreshorthair,flatchests,shortstraightskirts,drovecars,smoked,drank,partied,andflauntedtheirfashionandindividuality.Theybegantobreaktherulesandregulationsofsocietywithaninviolableattitude,begantofacetheirheartsanddesires,andtrulytreatedthemselvesasanaturalperson.Centuriesofoppressioncouldnotweardownwomen’swilltoresist,andtheyaspiredtogainthesamerightsasmeninallaspects.Theybegantoimitatemen’sdressanddailybehavior,especiallyintheareasofsmokinganddrinking.Theessenceofthisimitationisstillthedesireformen’spositionandresourcesinsociety,theangeratthedeprivationoftheirrights,andthebloodshedofoppression.Sadly,sucharightfulpursuitcanonlybeexpressedintheformofimitationofmen.Thenewwaveofgirlsgoingtobarsanddanceclubswithagroupofmalepartnersisaquestforfreedom.Nolongerwantingtoactasdominatedandobtainedobjectsingenderrelations,buteagertotaketheinitiativeandrealizetheirtruewill.Brett’snewfemininityisatrueexpressionofherself,discoveringherownaspirationsandtakingtheinitiativetopursuepleasure,bothphysicallyandspiritually.Althoughshesuffersonthepathofpursuingloveandsex,beingrepeatedlypulledbythecontradictionsofherinnerandphysicalpursuits,sheactuallyconfrontsherowndesiresandpursuesthem.Brett’sstrugglewiththedilemmaoflovealsoreflectsthelimitationsofthetimes.Althoughthewomen’smovementwasinfullswingafterWorldWarI,theroadtorealisticinterestswasstillbumpyandtortuous.ForBrett,thetraumaofthewarleavesheremptyandconfused,andsocietyoffersfewopportunitiesforwomentorealizethemselves.Herself-fulfillmentisalmostentirelyinloveandmen,andshecouldnotevenmakeendsmeetwithouttheirprovision.Herinabilitytobetrulyindependentisoneofthemajorreasonsforhertragiclife.Eventhoughsheisspirituallyawakened,herreallifecannotprovideherwiththestrengthtostandonherownfeet.Soeventhoughsheappearstobenewandsharp,sheisfloatingandshakyinside.ItisinthissituationthatBrettisportrayedasthetypicalnewwomaninthenovel,pursuingherselfandliberatingherspirit,butherbodyisstilltrappedinthisbarrenland.Butsuchfemalespiritcanalwaysbepassedonandinnovatedstepbystep.Eventhenewfemaleimagewiththebrandofthetimesisaprofoundguideandreferenceobjectforcontemporarywomentolearnandgrow.