從《南方與北方》看英國工業(yè)革命時期女性自我意識的覺醒

摘要：十八世紀下半葉和十九世紀,一場影響深遠的經(jīng)濟大革命把世界帶入了工業(yè)時代。隨著工業(yè)革命的發(fā)展，帶來的不僅僅是經(jīng)濟的發(fā)展，還有女性自我意識的覺醒。通過對改編自英國著名女作家蓋斯凱爾夫人的小說《南方與北方》的研究分析，以瑪格麗特的成長歷程和戀愛波折為例，著重探究工業(yè)革命對維多利亞時期女性的自我意識發(fā)展所帶來的深遠影響,挖掘工業(yè)革命所帶來的社會意義，從而全面了解婦女解放的歷史。由女主人公的成長與先前女性的遭遇形成的對比來體現(xiàn)出工業(yè)革命帶來的女性經(jīng)濟獨立，婚姻自由，能力提升和思想進步，體現(xiàn)了女性自我意識的得益于工業(yè)革命的發(fā)展。關鍵詞：南方與北方自我意識覺醒工業(yè)革命Abstract：Inthesecondhalfofthe18thcenturyandthe19thcentury,aprofoundeconomicrevolutionbroughttheworldintotheindustrialage.ThedevelopmentoftheIndustrialRevolutionhavebroughtnotonlytheeconomicgrowthbutalsotheawakeningofwomen’sself-consciousness.BasedontheanalysisofMargaret’sgrowthexperienceandlovestory,thefar-reachingimpactoftheIndustrialRevolutiononthedevelopmentofVictorianwomen’sself-consciousnessandthesocialsignificanceareexplored,soastofullyunderstandthehistoryofwomen’sliberation.Thecontrastbetweenthegrowthoftheheroineandthepreviouspoisonedofwomenshowstheeconomicindependence,freedomofmarriage,improvementofabilityandideologicalprogressbroughtbytheIndustrialRevolution.Itconcludesthattheawakeningofwomen’sself-consciousnessbenefitsfromthedevelopmentoftheIndustrialRevolution.Keywords:NorthandSouththeawakeningofself-consciousnesstheIndustrialRevolutionCONTENTSTOC\o"1-3"\h\u320291.Introduction 1320642.AnAnalysisoftheAuthorandHeroines 271962.1TheauthorofNorthandSouth:afeministpioneer 33642.2CharacteristicsofthetwomainwomeninNorthandSouth 4278412.2.1Mrs.Thornton:beingastrongwoman 4302412.2.2Margaret:mylifeisuptomyself 5246603.ProgressofWomen’sAwakeningDuringtheIndustrialRevolutioninBritainfromNorthandSouth 854943.1Poisonedwomen:subconsciousobediencetomale 9181303.1.1Theblindobediencetofather 9319143.1.2Theoppressivelifetosubmittheirhusband 1022533.2Fourawakeningperformancesofwomen 12309933.2.1Economicindependence 12207823.2.2Professionaleducation 14228613.2.3Interpersonalcommunication 15117763.2.4Socialparticipation 16198104.Summary 1810426References 2029805Acknowledgments 22 IntroductionWomen’sself-consciousnessstartsfromtheirownfeelingsandexperiences,andformsaseriesofunderstandingsofthemselvesandtheexternalworldafterthinkingabouttheirownexistenceandessence.Althougheachfemaleindividualduetodifferentlifeexperience,wayofthinkingandotheraspectsoftheformationofagreatvarietyoffemaleself-consciousness.However,thisconsciousnesswasformedintheprocessofwomenexploringthenatureofhumanfreedom.Duetotheuniquephysiologicalstructureandspecialpositionofwomen,herself-consciousnessisdifferentfromthatofmen.Intheprocessofpursuingfreedom,shealsoshowedheruniquewayofemphasizingphysiologicalfeeling,emotionalfeelingandtenacity.Thedevelopmentoftheseconsciousnessispresentedtousthroughthecarrierofwomen’sliterature.Thecreatorofthisfilmisfemale,whichreflectsthefemaleconsciousnessandexploresthesurvivalsituationandspiritualliberationofwomen.Sincethe1970s,domesticandforeignscholarshaveneverstoppedtheirresearchonwomen’sself-consciousness.Theirresearchresultshaveemergedoneafteranotherandtheirresearchperspectivesandmethodsarealsoconstantlychanging.InIvyPinchbeck’sbookWomenWorkersandtheIndustrialRevolution1750-1850(IvyPinchbeck,1969),thechangesinthestatusofwomeninfactorieswerestudied.Theauthorpointedoutthatduringthisperiod,thestatusofwomenchanged,thatis,theself-sufficientnaturaleconomygraduallywentbankrupt,andthecottageindustryshiftedtofactoryworkorotherwageworkoutsidethefamily.However,inthelatestageoftheindustrialrevolution,socialtraditionsandtechnologicalprogresscausedashort-termdeclineinwomen’semployment.Thisisofgreatsignificancetotheawakeningofwomen’sself-consciousness.InthebookofBritishWomenintheNineteenthCentury,Kathrynshowsthatalthoughtheprocessofwomenstruggleforjobopportunitiesorpoliticalpowerisextremelydifficult,theyhaveself-awareness,fromfamilytosociety,andfromspontaneoustoconsciouspursuitoftheirowneconomicandpoliticalstatusinthestruggle,whichiscrucialtothetransformationofwomen’ssocialroles(KathrynGleadle,2001).Thesevividcasesintheseresearchresultswillprovideimportanthelpforthewritingofthisarticle.Thepapercanmoresystematicallyseethechangingprocessofwomen’srolesduringtheindustrialrevolution,whichcanapproachthehistoricaltruthascloselyaspossible.Manydomesticscholarshavealsouseddifferentliterarytheoriesandmethodstoanalyzetheawakeningofwomenduringtheindustrialrevolution.WhichalsoinjectedvitalityintothestudyofcontemporaryChinesewomen’shistory.MaYing’sIndustrialRevolutionandBritishWomendiscussesinmoredetailthechangesinthelife,workandideologicalsituationoftheupper,middleandlowerclasswomeninBritainduringtheindustrialrevolution(Ma,1993).Theauthorhasconductedamorein-depthdiscussionontherelationshipbetweentheindustrialrevolutionandthechangesinthesocialstatusofBritishwomen,andbelievesthatwomen’sparticipationinsocialworkoutsidethefamilycontributedgreatlytotheeconomicdevelopmentofBritainatthattime.Tosumup,historiansathomeandabroadhavediscussedthesituationofwomenduringtheBritishIndustrialRevolutionfrommacroandmicroperspectives,providingvaluableexperienceforourresearch.Atpresent,theresearchresultslackdetailedandsystematicresearchonthisissue,whichcannotfullyreflectthehistoricalprocessofwomen’sgradualtransformationfromfamilytosocialworker.Theinnovationofthisarticleliesinthecombinationofplentifulfilmimagesandtheanalysisofwomenintheoverallsocialbackgroundfromindividualcharactersexperience.AnAnalysisoftheAuthorandHeroinesTheheroine'sawakeningofself-consciousnessshownbytheauthorofthisfilmactuallyrepresentsherownemancipationofmind.Therefore,ananalysisoftheauthor'sgrowthandtheexperiencesofthetwomainheroinesisveryimportant.Throughtheawakeningofthethreewomen,thefar-reachingsignificanceoftheindustrialrevolutionfortheawakeningofself-consciousnesscanbemoreclearlyshown.2.1TheauthorofNorthandSouth:afeministpioneerNorthandSouthisoneoftheseriesoffilmsadaptedfrommasterpieceswhichispushed-offbytheBBCin2004.ThestoryisadaptedfromthenovelofthesamenamebyMrs.Gaskell,awomanwriter.Mrs.Gaskellisanovelistinthelate20thcenturywhoplayanimportantroleofthestudyofVictoriaculture.Asaprominentandcontroversialfemalewriter,shehasgainedagreatconcernfromthecriticsandscholarsforhercrude.Shechoosestostateinhernovelharshandviolentelementsoftheindustrialurbancity.Mrs.Gaskell’sworkscanbebroadlydividedintotwocategories:reflectingthelivingconditionsofworkersinBritain'sindustrialtownsandtheirstrugglewithfactoryowners.EventheliterarygiantCharlesDickenssays:“...amongthelivingauthorsinVictoriaage,theonewhohashelpedmealotistheauthorofMaryBarton.”AsafemaleinVictoriaage,sheisaluckyone.UnlikeBront?ssistersandJaneAusten,shegetsmarriedandhasaveryhappyfamilylife;unlikeGeorgeEliot,shegetsherownbabiesandisahappymother.Sheexperiencesthelifeasamotherandwifeandrejecttheconservativeexplanationofwoman'sroleinthefamilyandsociety.In

the

practice

of

artistic

creation,

theembodiment

and

deepening

of

the

themeareoften

closely

linked

with

the

author’s

discovery

andcharacters.The

character

intheworksis

the

playwright’s

unique

discovery

of

life.

Every

successful

televisionartisticistheauthor's

own

ideal,thinkingaboutlifeandrichfeelings.OnlywhenMrs.GaskellanalyzesherlifeandfuseherfieryfeelingswiththefleshandbloodofthecharacterscansheendowsMargaretwithuniquelifeandmeaning.Elizabeth

Gaskell

admits

that

there

is

a

need

for

improvement

in

the

individuallivesofwomen,butshedoesnotbelievethatchangesinlegalsystemareaneffectivemeanstoachieveit.Gaskell’s

fictionpaysmoreattentiontothecomplex

relationshipsbetweenwomen

and

men.She

rejects

that

men

have

moreauthority

than

women.Increatingofsuchapowerfulwomancharacter,Gaskell

draws

much

on

her

beliefs

andexperience.Theresemblancebetweenthemakerandhercreationisnocoincidence,whichrevealsElizabeth

Gaskell

as

a

new

woman

andherpersonalyearnforfreedom

power

and

independence

(Fang

Lan,2014:59).

In

Mrs.Gaskell’s

opinion,

the

development

of

feminist

consciousness

is

an

important

feature

toshowtheprogressof

social

civilization.It

is

also

necessary

to

encourage

women’sself-esteemandself-confidence

in

the

process

of

social.Therehasastrongsenseoffemaleconsciousnessinherwork.Shebrokenthemythofmensavewomeninmanystory'sending.Instead,theroleofwomeninthetraditionalpatriarchalsocietyandthesocialorderareconflict,andtheforceofwomen’sindependenceshouldbebetterstrengthen.2.2CharacteristicsofthetwomainwomeninNorthandSouthThe

storyofNorth

and

Southtakes

place

in

the

19th

century.

The

IndustrialRevolutionbeganinthe1860s

and

has

gradually

reached

its

climax.Accordingtomanyresearches,Until

the

end

of

the

18th

century,Britain

was

still

acountryrelyonagriculturaleconomy.State

power

wascontrolledbylandholdersandnoblesinthesouth.The

development

of

the

industrial

revolution

hasbrought

great

changestoBritaininashortperiodoftime,breakingthestablepoliticalandeconomicstructureandsocialstructureof

British

society

for

thousands

of

years.Thepowerofemergingbourgeoisieincreasealot.Sothattheconflictofthisstorycomesfromthecollisionbetweenthetwogroups.Mrs.Thornton,representstheriseofthemiddleclassundermachineproduction.Sheisastrongwomanwhoraisedacoupleofchildrenofherown.AndMargaret,nurturedbyaristocraticlifeandeducation.Bothofthemshowingtheirpositivesideundertheinfluenceofthesocialenvironment.Theyalsopromotedeachother'sgrowth.2.2.1Mrs.Thornton:beingastrongwomanMr.Thornton'smother,Mrs.Thornton,isaveryvividcharacter.Althoughthereisnotmuchdescriptionofher,the

progressofherawakeningasafemalecanstillbeseenfromtheside.Mrs.Thorntonhasahighdegreeofdignity,butshedoesnothasthearroganceofsomeshallowandignorantrichwives.Sheisawomanofprovenability.Becauseofherhusband’suntimelydeath,shetookontheheavyresponsibilityofraisingchildrenbyherself.Evenundersuchcircumstances,shedidnotshirkherdebts.Thosecreditorshavegivenupthehopeofrecoveringtheirdebts.Butsherememberedeverydebtveryclearlyandpaiditoffonebyone.Inaddition,thefactoryworkerscalledherdevilbecausesheknewtheoperationofthemachineandmanagesthefactorywithstrictrules.Sheoftengoestothefactorytoinspect,evenalittlelazyworkerscan'tescapehereyes.ItcanbesaythatMr.Thornton'smedalofmeritishalffromher.Throughherownefforts,MrsThorntonshowedthatwomenarefullyqualifiedforman’sjobandcalledformorejobopportunitiesforwomen.Mrs.ThorntonandMargaretadvocatewomen’sparticipationinsocietyandactivework,whichinessencealsoshowsthatwomencanenterthecenterofsocietyandrealizewomen’srighttospeak.Butshedidn’tlikeMargaretatfirst.Mrs.ThorntonbelievethatMargaretissucharecklessyoungwomanandself-conceit.Itwasalsotheworkers’riotsbroughtbytheindustrialrevolutionthatchangedhermind.ShesawMargaretrushedoutinfrontofothersandsavedherson.ShealsoadmirethatMargaretshownherfeelingsforalltheworldtoseeMrs.Thorntontoldtoherson,“Imayyetevenlearntolikeherforit.Itmusthavetakenagreatdealtoovercomeherpride.”Therefore,shechangedalot.WhenMargaretwasknockedunconsciousnessbyastonethrownduringtheworkers’riot,Noonedaredtocrossthechaoticstreetstofinddoctor.Shesaid,“Iwentforthedoctormyselfasnooneelseseemedtohaveamindtogo.”SheisnotafraidofdangerandtryherbesttohelpMargaret.Shehasasenseofresponsibility.WhenMargaret’smotherdied,sheentrustedMargarettoher.Mrs.ThorntontreatedMargaretlikeherowndaughterandgaveheradvicewhenshedidsomethingwrong.WhenMr.Thornton'sunwillingnesstoparticipateinspeculationledtotheeconomiccrisis,shewasalwaysaccompaniedwithhim.2.2.2Margaret:mylifeisuptomyselfWangpingisemphasizedinthearticle（Wang,2005),“Evensuppressedbytraditionalconcepts,womenarenevercompletelypassiveandobedient,underthebackgroundofdifferentsocialandeconomicdevelopment.TheymakefulluseoftheIndustrialRevolution,andgivethemtheopportunityisfavorableforthetwoworldwars,tochangethefateoftheirpastpassive,oppressedmadeunremittingefforts,andultimatelywinforhimselfthepowerandstatusinsociety,inpeople'smindstosetupthenewfemaleimage.”Margaretistheonewhodoesnotsubmittofate.Margaret’sfamilymovedtoMilton,acompletelyunfamiliarnortherntown.Unlikethewarmthandcomfortofherhometown,Miltonwascoldanddirtyduringtheindustrialrevolution.Theroadisnolongerfragrantflowersandplants,replacedbyrudeworkers,cottonflyingtextileworkshop.Inadditiontothemaladjustmentofthenewenvironment,HerfirstimpressionofMiltonwasextremelybadbecauseofthebullyingandharshnessofyoungindustrialistJohnThornton,theownerofthetextilefactory.WiththedeepeningofMiltonlife,Margaretgraduallyrealizedthetendernessandsufferingsbehindtheworkers’rudeandviolenttemperandfirmlystoodbythem.Sheworkedwiththemtofightpovertyanddisease.Asthemisunderstandingbetweenthetwosidesgraduallylifted,whenThorntonwasinfinancialdifficulties,Margaretchoosetohelphim,andeventuallytheygottogether.Likethesouthandthenorth,theyareoppositebutcloselylinked.Marguerite’srapidgrowthwasasurprise,butreasonable.Margarethasjustbegantoliveinfamilyspace.JustlikeordinaryBritishwomeninthe19thcentury,theyarediligentandthriftyinrunningtheirhomes,givingfullplaytotheirgreatestdomesticabilityandtakingcareofandhandlingfamilyaffairs.However,Margaretoccasionallyexercisedherfather’srightsasheadofthefamily.ThispointofviewshowsthatMargaretwascompletelyinlinewiththeidentityofthehousewifeinEnglandatthattimeandlaidthegroundworkforherlatermovetoupper-classsociety(ZhangLi,2015).Sheisdifferent.Margaretthinksthateveryoneisdoingsomethingendlesslybusy.Shethinksthataunts,cousins,lawyersandsoonarealldoingsomethingboring.HermothercomplainedeverydaythatMiltonwasthemostremoteplaceinEngland“fulloffarmersandemployees,

aplaceforgottenbyGod.”ButMargaretstillhaveawalkeverydayandmakefriends.Sheopposesthatwomenascommoditiesinthemarriagemarket.Margaretsoughtafootholdthroughfamilygatheringsorcharityactivities.Margarethasalwayshadaninexplicableinterestindiscussingjob.Sheeagertoparticipateinthemalesocialspace.AttheThorntonfamilyparty,theladieswereveryinterestedindishesandcostumes,recordingallkindsofdishesandcommentingoneachother’scostumes.However,Margaretisnotinterestedinthosethings.Shelikesmen’spower-takingandlisteningtomen’sbiggerandmoreimportantthings.Shedoesn’tlikewomen’sendlessidletalkandshedoesn’tlikeladies’shorttalk.Margaretistotallydifferentfromothertraditionalwomen.Shetakesanactivepartinthissocietyandhasinsightintothedifferencebetweenhousewivesandsocialworkers.Sowhentheworkersrioted,shepersuadedMrs.Thorntontonegotiatewiththeworkers.Shelistenedtodifferentvoicesandunderstoodthesituationoftheworkers.Margaretwasverystrongandintegratedintothecurrentofthetimes.Sheistheembodimentofthemaleprotectorandthereconcilerofsocialcontradictions.Onlyshecanresolvethecontradictionbetweenworkersandassetstage.Shelistenedtotheviewsofbothsides,subtlyreconciledthecontradictionsbetweenthetwosides,andfinallyplayedavitalroleinthehandshakebetweenShilkinandThornton.Magritteshowedhisuniquecalmandstabilitywhenfacingtheworkers’siegeoftheThorntonfamily.Thornton’ssisterscreamedallthewayupthestairsandcollapsedonthesofa,ataloss.Theirmaidwasterrified.OnlyMargaretshowedexceptionalbravery.SheencouragedThorntontogooutlikeamanandtaketheumbrellaofthewholefamily.Atthesametime,MargaretalsoprotectedThornton.Sherushedoutoftheroomandtrotteddownstairs.ShedidnotpanicinthefaceofangryworkersandstoodbetweenThorntonandstrikingworkers.ThesedescriptionsareenoughtoshowMargaret’schange.Sheunderstoodherstatusasahousewife,shewastheleaderofthechaos,shedominatedThornton’scourage,shedominatedthemoodofthestrikers,andsherushedtotheforefrontoftheworkers’struggle.Throughthesewords,readersknowaboutthebraveryofVictorianwomenandapplaudtheircourageinawakeningtheirself-consciousness.Atlast,whenshereturnedtoherhometownaccompaniedbyMr.Bell,shealsoexpressedthatshecouldnolongeradapttotheidlelifeinthesouth.Sheunderstoodthatshehasfalleninlovewithlifeinanindustrialcity.ShedecidedreturnedtoMiltonandgraspherownlife.Margaretwasdominatetherelationshipintheirfeelings.Atthebeginning,Margaret’sgrowthenvironmentmadeherhaveprejudicetothebusinessmen.Inaddition,shesawthelivingconditionsofhergoodfriendsHiggins.ThecontradictionbetweentheworkingclassandthebourgeoisiemadehermorebiasedagainstThornton.Thereaftercomesworkers’strike,Margaret’sperformancesbreaktherulesoftraditionalVictorianwomen.ShebravelyprotectedMr.Thorntonandinjuredherself(Chen,2016:05).ThisincidentdirectlyledtoThornton’sconfession.ButMargaretrefused.Afterthat,Thornton'sdecisionwasallaboutMargaret.HechosetohelpMargaret’sfriendsbyquietlyofferingHigginsajob.Fortunately,theyfinallymetontheplatformandlivedhappilytogether.TherejectionofMargaret’sfirstproposalandtheacceptanceofhersecondproposalaretheresultsofwomen’ssubjectiveconsciousnessandvaluepursuit.Shechallengedthedominantconsciousnessofsocietyanddemonstratedthewisdom,rationalityandabilityofwomenonaparwithmen.ProgressofWomen’sAwakeningDuringtheIndustrialRevolutioninBritainfromNorthandSouthThedevelopmentoftheIndustrialRevolutionandtheestablishmentofthefactorysystembroughtworkersfromalloverthecountrylivetogether,whicheliminatedtheremnantsofpatriarchalrelations,anddirectlyattractedwomentoparticipateinsocialproduction.Inthepasttime,theyhadnorighttospeakandonlyobeytomale.Beforemarriage,thefatheristheheadoffamily,andgirlsmustobeytheirfather.Aftermarriage,thewoman'sownershipishandovertoherhusband.Nowtheyhavetheirownconsciousness.Thischangepromotetheirdevelopmentandenhancedtheirindependence.Theuseofmachineopenupanewwaytowomentakepartinsocialproduction,helpwomenfromfamilyroletosocialrole.Thatistosay,thedawnoftheIndustrialRevolutionhasopenedupthewomen’sliberation.Whichisaprogressivephenomenon,forwomengetridofthebondageofprivateaffairsandfacethelaborpower.TheIndustrialRevolutionmeettheneedsoftheprogressofthesocietyandthechange.3.1Poisonedwomen:subconsciousobediencetomaleBeforetheindustrialrevolution,thedeep-rootedpatriarchalconsciousnessadvocatedthecompleteseparationofthefamilyfromthepublicsphere,andwomenshouldbeseparatedfromthepublicsphereandpublicaffairs.Theyshouldbeobedient,clever,passiveandhumble(Bu,2016).Alllifeistogetmarried,managemarriageandhavechildren.Suchideologyhasinfactsetupbarriersforthegrowthofwomen,makingthemgraduallysubservient.Inthismovie,intheviewoftheheroine’saunt,adecentupper-classladyshouldnotgooutalonewithouthercompanion.Inaddition,whetherthebeautifulanddocilefriendIdis,pamperedandirresponsiblesisterFanny,Margaret’smothernovoiceinfamily,orDixonwholikesto“bedominatedbystrongwill”,thedescriptionoftheserolesinthenovelreflectsthatwomenhadnovoiceatthattimeandhadtoobey.3.1.1TheblindobediencetofatherWhentheMargaret'sfamilyfirstcametoMilton,shewenttofindaplacetolive.Thehousekeeperrefusedtoanswerherquestionabouttherent,buttosay,Mr.Thorntonwilldiscussitwithyourfather.Noneedtoconcernyourself.Margaretrepliedthatherfatherandheraresharingthetaskofsecuringaproperty.ShehavespenttwodaysviewingwhatMiltonhastoofferandhaveafairlygoodideaofprice.AlthoughthehousekeeperexpressedsurpriseatMargaret,heinsistedtotalkingwithherfather.Thesituationcanshowthatpetty-bourgeoiswomenwasverydismal,astheyhadnoproperty,theyknewverywellthattheirfuturefatelaybetweenmarriageandgoverness.Thepositionofagovernessissimilartothatofamaid.Evensoforpetty-bourgeoiswomen,nottomentionthefateofworkingwomenlivingatthebottomofsociety.Thestatusofwomenissolowthattheirrightsasequaltomenarealmostcompletelydeprived.Undersuchcircumstances,themaleworldusesitsowndiscoursepowertomoldwomenintothetypesitneedsatwill,thuscreatingthe“Angelinthefamily”（Ning,2008).Theyweretaughttobeanangelhome.Firstofall,“Angels”shouldhavebeautifulfaces.Suchbeautyandcharmareinaworldwherewomenaredestinedtobevases.Secondly,womenhavetobededicated.Theyshouldbedocile,kindandabletosupportmen’sself-esteemwiththeirnoblemorality;theyshouldbeconsiderate,considerateandtimelytocomfortmen’spainorsuffering;theyshouldbemoretenaciousandpersistent,silentlybearthedifficultsituationorunfairtreatment,andnevergiveuptheloveforthosedown-and-outmen.Whenwomenaregiventhisangelaura,theywillbemorewillingtocontributetothemaleworld.Womenareinfluencedbythisideaandbecomemaleserviceproviders.Theydidnotrealizewhatwasinappropriateandwerefullofexpectationfortheirmarriage.Margaret’scousin,IdisislivesinLondon.Shemarriedtoasecondlieutenant.SherepresentsasubmissivefemaleimageintheVictorianpatriarchalsociety.Sheisatypical“AngelintheHouse”.TobesurethatinhercorrespondencewithMargaret,Margaret’schangescanintuitivelyfeel.3.1.2TheoppressivelifetosubmittheirhusbandBeforetheindustrialrevolution,Britishsocietywasdeeplyinfluencedbythetraditionalpatriarchalsystem.Mostwomenwereconfinedbytheroleofwifeandmotherandstucktothefamilycircle.Thetraditionalconceptofgenderroledeprivedthemoftherightsandopportunitiestoparticipateinpublicaffairsandpoliticalpublicsphere.Theyhavenorighttoexploreotherthingsoutsidethefamily,andareinacompletelypowerlesspositioninthenationalpoliticallife.Whatistosay,whenawomanmarries,sheislegally“dead”.Duetothechangeofherfather'sjob,thefamilyhavetomovefromthesouthtothenorth.AfriendofMargaretwhomnamedEdithsays,“Whatwasunclethinkingof,takingyouallsofarawayfromhome?Whyonearthareyouinthatawfulplacewheretheymakecotton,wherenoonewhoisanyonewishestobuyit?lamsurewewillalwayswearlinen.”Itcanbeseenthatthesoutherntowngirlinformationisblocked.Andtheirservant,alsoexpressedhermisunderstandwhythemasterwasthinkingoftotakethemtosuchaplacewithgossip.AndMargaret’smother,thoughunwillingandcryingonthetrain,alsohavetofollowherhusband.Becauseinthetraditionalconcept,awomanhavetofollowandserveherhusband.Thisalsolaidthegroundworkforherfuturedepression.Thispassivepositionofwomenisverycommon.Inamale-dominatedsociety,womenareinthepositionofbeingselectedandevaluated.Malechauvinistsbelievethatwomenhavealwaysbeenaccessoriesofmen.Moreover,ifwomendonotinheritproperty,theycanonlyrelyonmarryingamanwithincometoensurefoodandclothingfortherestoftheirlives.ThisishowThornton'ssistermarriedarichbusinessmanandcontinueherluxuriouslife.Thelawdoesnotrecognizethatamarriedwomanhasapersonalityandidentityindependentofherhusband.TheBiblesays,“amanshallleavehisfatherandmother,andshallbeunitedwithhiswife,andshallbeoneflesh.”Thisisunderstoodas,throughmarriage,thehusbandandwifebecomeoneperson,andthatpersonistheirhusband.Marriedwomenarenotallowedtodisciplinetheirchildrenastheirownproperty.Shelostalltherightswhenbecomingamarriedwoman,andherpresencewascompletelyabsorbedintoherhusband’s.Hewasresponsibleforheractionsasacitizen,andshelivedunderhisprotectionorunderhiswing.Thewifeloseshersurnameandadoptsherhusband’s;Whateversheinheritedorearnedbelongedtoherhusband,andshecouldnotenterintoanylegalcontract.Theyhavenolegalrightsovertheirchildren.Thisconditionhasbeenchangedwithimperceptibleinfluence,accompaniedwithgradualawarenessofself-consciousnessoffemales.Influencedbythefeudalthought,womendidnotimprovetheirstatus,butsacrificedthemselves.Undertheframeworkofthefield,womenareallpositionedassubordinateinbothsocialcustomsandfamily.Althoughwomenareoneofthemainsourcesoflaborforce,theyhavenoactivestatus.Theyhavesacrificedtheirstatusandrightsforthestabilityandprosperityoftheirfamilyandcountry.Itisinthisprocessthattheawakeningofwomen’ssubjectiveconsciousnesswasborn.Thesocialandculturalchangesbroughtaboutbytheindustrialrevolutionprovidethepremisefortheconstructionoffeministthoughts.Therefore,inthisera,someconsciouswomeninheritedthetraditionofoutstandingwomenwhodared