ABSTRACT

Pearl S．Buck(1892—1973)，as a controversial American female writer, has written many literary works about China and its people against cross-culture background．In 1938，she won the Nobel Prize，and became the first female winner in America. Strongly caring for women’s problems in China, she is also one of the first advocators of female liberation. The House of Earth embodies Buck’s attitudes and perspectives on Chinese women, and describes the progress of Chinese women made in women liberation and the changes of their mind.       

The paper first analyzes feminism through different perspectives. Then it reveals that Pearl S. Buck classifies Chinese women into two types: the traditional ones and the modern ones, and reveals their different personalities. While she praised the traditional virtues of the traditional women, she put a higher value upon the modern women. The traditional women like O-lan and Pear had to submit to the various powers, but they did not blindly submit, rather used their own ways to rebel in the face of difficulties and oppressions in a unique way. Women's obedience and resistance reflects the courage of women to survive and the determination to pursue a better life. On the contrary, the modern women have received the new ideas. They started to struggle for equality and freedom. All in all, it is the modern women that directed the liberation of Chinese women and embodied Buck’s feminist thought. 

Key Words：Pearl S. Buck; female images; women's liberation; obedience; resistance

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 A Brief Introduction to Pearl S. Buck-1

1.2 The House of Earth-1

1.3 Definition of Feminism-4

1.4 Obedience and Resistance-4

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-6

2.1 Studies at Abroad-6

2.2 Studies at Home-7

2.3. Purpose and Significance of the Thesis-9

Chapter Three OBEDIENCE AND SUBMISSION-10

3.1 Traditional Women-10

3.1.1 Women with Traditional Virtues-11

3.1.2 Women without Dignity-12

Chapter Four RESISTANCE AND STRUGGLE-13

4.1 Limited resistance of Traditional Women-13

4.2 Decline of Old Times-15

4.3 Spread of New Ideas-16

4.4 Misunderstanding of Women Liberation-17

4.5 Real Understanding of Women Liberation-17

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-19

WORKS CITED-21