Abstract：Amy Tan (1952- ) is a famous Chinese American writer, whose works most focus on describing the relationship between mother and daughter and the image of traditional Chinese females. She is good at integrating her own experiences as an ethnic Chinese into her works. The Bonesetter’s Daughter is her most autobiographical novel, which builds a women-centered family tree by exploring the history of a family. It also expresses the feeling of ethnic Chinese women who achieve economic and spiritual independence and win complete liberation after fighting against the oppression of patriarchy. This book uses the skill of storytelling to depict the inner world of three generations of Chinese women who struggle against destiny and unfairness in the male dominated and racial society. Besides, it reflects women’s pain and helpless in aspects of gender, race and history memory. And one of its protagonists-- Precious Auntie is the best figure that can reflect the process of women’s fight under the oppression of traditional Chinese feudal system.

     This thesis analyzes women’s suffering and their fights against the patriarchal authority in the perspective of feminism. The whole thesis is divided into three parts. The first part is an introduction, which gives a brief overview of the content and states reasons of creating this novel. The body part of this thesis contains three chapters. The first chapter begins with the background information of this book, which includes the brief introduction of feminism and the summary of the causes that make Chinese women to keep silent. The second chapter reveals Precious Auntie’s silence in the patriarchal society and causes and reflections of such silent behaviors. The third chapter analyzes Precious Auntie’s fight against the patriarchal society and its meaning. The last part of this thesis is a conclusion, which points out the significance of Precious Auntie’s struggle and fight in the patriarchal society.

Key words: Amy Tan; The Bonesetter’s Daughter; Silence; Fight; Feminism

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Introduction-1

Chapter 1 Silenced Third World Women—From the Perspective of Feminism-2

  1.1 The General Introduction to Feminism-2

  1.2 Reasons for the Silence Suffered by Chinese Women.3

Chapter 2 Precious Auntie’s Silence in the Patriarchal Society -3

2.1 The Causes for Precious Auntie’s Silence -4

2.2 Precious Auntie’s Silent Behaviors -6

2.3 The Implication of Precious Auntie’s Silence -8

Chapter 3 Precious Auntie’s Fight Against the Patriarchal Society -9

3.1 The Causes for Precious Auntie’s Fight -9

3.2 The Reflections of Precious Auntie’s Fight-10

3.3 The Implication of Precious Auntie’s Fight -12

Conclusion -13

Bibliography-14

Acknowledgements-15