On the characterization of female roles in "Rulin Waishi"

• Main Authors: Lee kui jan, 李貴禎
• Other Authors: 蔡榮昌
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/06529331639569231613

碩士 === 國立屏東教育大學 === 中國語文學系碩士班 === 95 === On the Characterization of Female Roles in “Rulin Waishi” Abstract The female figures in Wu, Ching-Tzu's “Rulin Waishi” are portrayed with diversified fates and indicate the unreasonable treatment encountered by women in marriage and family. In this paper the author, according to the social position, thinking and life style of these female roles in “Rulin Waishi”, divides them into four classes: prevalent custom resistance, self-determination consciousness, negative behavior, and on-the-edge struggling. Totally there are 48 female roles in “Rulin Waishi”. Some of them are pictured by Wu, Ching-Tzu in detail, and these roles are classified into the group with lively character in this paper. Contrarily, the others are just mentioned briefly and the focus of description is placed on the male roles. These female roles of illegible faces are classified into the group without lively character. Among the female roles of lively character, over ten of them have been analyzed or discussed in researches for more than five times. Where, Shen, Chiun-Chih is portrayed with the most effort in “Rulin Waishi” and ranks the first among the roles discussed in researches. She dares to fight against the power and break through the restrictions placed by traditional feudal ethics on women. She is really a wonderful woman who is never afraid of power. Through figuring a woman like Shen, Chiun-Chih, the writer Wu, Ching-Tzu figures out the problems faced by the women in the traditional society. This paper analyzes and probes into the characterization of female roles in “Rulin Waishi” in detail. The author analyzes the female image in “Rulin Waishi” from the angles of the politics, economy and society of that time, and discusses how these factors influence Wu, Ching-Tzu's opinion on the roles and position of women according to his growth background and the social environment of that time. Before Wu, Ching-Tzu, some litterateurs like Lee, Chih and Tang, Hsien-Tsu had brought some advanced opinions on women. Some time later Lee, Ju-Chen cared the woman issue in succession to the predecessors. In the late Cing Dynasty, some scholars like Yu, Cheng-Hsieh also expressed their objection to the feudal patriarchy's repression on women. These thoughts and opinions caring the woman issue implied the sympathy and care of intellectual circle of Ming and Cing Dynasties for the unfair treatment faced by women. The characterization of female roles in “Rulin Waishi” has impacted the traditional relationship between man and woman and has set new models for women. It is worthy of recognition that Wu, Ching-Tzu, as a male writer, can break through the thinking and behavior of man-centered mentality. The author also proves that Wu, Ching-Tzu is really a great pioneer of woman’s rights movement from the religious angle, the opinion of jealous women and the support of woman’s rights in the women journals of Shanghai in the May 4th Movement Period. Keywords: Rulin Waishi (Informal History for Academia), Wu, Ching-Tzu, female, role, literature of Ming and Cing Dynasties, feudal ethics, eight-part essay, imperial examination