英语论文网

in the South Island. Fee is his only daughter. He has planned her life for her right husband. But Fee loves deeply is another person, an important married politician. Fee loves him to the point of madness and could never love anyone else. But divorce is out of the question for him. As one of the first people of his race to attain political greatness; he has to choose his people rather than Fee. Fee had disgraced the family, for she isn’t married and she has a child. Her family tries to get her away. But her grandmother makes such a fuss they have no choice but to keep her on the place, in spite of the awkwardness. When her grandmother is dying, there is nothing to stop them getting rid of Fee and her child. They find Paddy to marry her and let him guarantee to take her out of the South Island.
Paddy had never been the man of Fee’s choice although he is a shy, tender and considerate lover. Once married Paddy, she closes her heart from the rest of the world. Over the years, she ever complains, or laughs, or cries. Even if in the most private part of her life, she ever displays any feeling. Living in an agony of frustration and driving by the nature of life, she becomes a machine to bear babies and do endless housework.
“In the early 20 century, not long after the beginning of feminist movement, Fee’s behavior is considered as betrayal though people pitied and were woeful about her fate. For that time women had little opportunity to actualize the value of their lives. It’s pathetic to know that she is just to go after beautiful things and got punished.”（Luo 2005）But in the spiritual world, Fee has broken through her own bondage. She marries Paddy for her family’s fame, but she is equal with Paddy in the spiritual state. She is a faithful wife, but never is a servant. She is grateful to Paddy for he gives her a family, but she never yields to anyone. She has her own thoughts and judgments. She never losses self-esteem when facing her husband and wins respect from her family and the others.
3.3 Ignorant but Brave Meggie
Meggie, second generation of the Cleary family, begins a struggle with God, the ultimate representative of the male-ruled society.
“As an ordinary woman, Meggie gets a progressive perception towards herself and others, that is an ignorant girl in the earlier stage grows a mature one having will of adamant and resistance of God.” （Liu 2004）
3.3.1Ignorant Meggie
When she is a teenager, Meggie has an ideal idea that when Ralph stops being a priest they will be together. Though Paddy tells Meggie that Ralph could never stop being a priest and the vows he took are sacred, too solemn to break, she never stops hoping that Ralph be her husband. Until Ralph states clearly that “I don’t want to leave the Church, because I don’t love you the way a husband will”, Meggie realizes Ralph would never come back to her and he has sold her for thirteen million pieces of silver.
Years later, Meggie marries Luke. When Meggie knows that she does not love Luke and Luke loves work and money only. Her thought about marriage is still traditional. Just for what the law said, she would live with him and accept that he is her husband and has his babies, even if she is not happy with Luke.
3.3.2Mature Meggie
When Meggie is in Anne’s home, she spends all her spare time reading. Meggie tries to position herself and has a sense of her marriage. “I’m just an ordinary sort of a woman;