| Summary: | 碩士 === 淡江大學 === 西洋語文研究所 === 83 === By way of the feminist interpretation of "Saint Joan" and
"Pygmalion," this thesis aims to expose how patriarchy as a
system of male authority ousts Joan and Eliza from the public
sphere traditionally dominated by men, and oppresses them
through its political, economic, social, and religious
organizations. Focusing on the analysis of Joan's and Eliza's
characteri- zations, this thesis is divided into four inter-
related sec- tions. After briefly presenting the existing
scholarship on the reading of "Saint Joan" and "Pygmalion,"
Introduction indicates that feminist criticism will be an
appropriate access to the comprehension of Shaw's works. The
outline of Kate Millett's theoretical concept based on "Sexual
Politics" and the possibility of how to apply it to the two
plays are delineated in this section. Concentrating upon the
interpretation of the intense conflict between the institutions
and the individual, Chapter One reveals the complicated process
of how Joan is victimized as a sorceress and heretic by
patriarchy hiding be- neath the feudal system and the Catholic
Church. Based on the process of Eliza's transformation into an
exalted lady, Chapter Two presents Eliza's strong defiance
against the dominance of surrogate fathers. Further, through
examining the antagonism between Eliza and Higgins, this
chapter discusses how Eliza be- comes an awakened woman from a
puppet-like duchess. Expatiating why Shaw arranges the
epilogue at the end of "Saint Joan" and the prose fiction envoy
following Act V of "Pygmalion," Conclusion presents Shaw's
conservative attitude towards Joan and Eliza.
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