| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 外國語文研究所 === 104 === This thesis argues that not only men oppress women, but also women press
women; meanwhile, men are also restrained by men in Gail Garson Levine’s Ella
Enchanted. This thesis attempts to study how patriarchy works in this fiction. I try
to find out the problems of patriarchy by adopting Simone de Beauvoir’s concept of
feminism and analyzing the characters in this novel. The social circumstances form an
invisible power of patriarchy to confine women if they want to fulfill dreams or
talents in this patriarchal world.
Following the introduction, this thesis is divided into two chapters. Chapter One
begins with the research on the patriarchy formation and development by adopting
Simone de Beauvoir’s concept of feminism. Further, I attempt to examine women’s
conditions to find out the problems of this patriarchal social system. Then, I would
like to investigate how patriarchy works in Ella Enchanted. Chapter Two focuses on
characters analysis in this fiction. I examine the problems of patriarchal world by
investigating Ella’s relationships with other female characters, such as Hattie, Olive,
and Areida. Further, I explore the relationships between Ella and Sir Peter, and
between Prince Charmont and King Jerold, to discuss the problems of patriarchy.
Finally, I show Ella and Prince Charmont are the ordinary people just like everyone of
us by analyzing the relationship between them. The protagonists in the traditional
fairy tales wait for prince’s rescue, and they are obedient, submissive. They are fine
ladies who cater to men’s requirements in the patriarchal world. On the contrary, Ella
isn’t a perfect lady, but only an ordinary people just like everyone of us. In the
patriarchal world, Ella is brave to pursue the life she wants, not just being obedient.
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