Heroine or Victim: A Feminist Reading of Joan's and Eliza's Characterizations in G. B. Shaw's "Saint Joan" and "Pygmalion"

• Main Authors: Chiou Pen Yuan, 邱珮筠
• Other Authors: Wang Ming Kae
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 1995
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/71646224275946114539

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.