ABSTRACT

As a major figure in the literary history of Australia, Miles Franklin (1879-1954) has been striving to illustrate the social and cultural elements which lead to women’s marginalization and subordination by writing about women’s physical and spiritual pain and bitterness . My Brilliant Career is her first and also most influential work, which is notable largely for its vivid and profound depiction of a bush girl who challenges societal conventions for liberty and selfhood. Readers are not only deeply attracted by the atmosphere of jungle, but also by the wonder of 16-year-old Franklin who shows the extraordinary talents in her girlhood. It shows the burst of inspiration sparks and eternal charm. This article interprets the work from the feminist perspective. The paper mainly analyzes three aspects of the herione Sybylla’s female ideas--- Sybylla’s awaking of feminist consciousness, development of independent character and realization of self-value in order to show the importance of Sybylla’s image to help the readers understand the novel better. 

Key words: Sybylla; Miles Franklin; My brilliant career; female ideas 

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

   1.1 Research Background-1

   1.2 Research Significance-1

   1.3 Layout of the Paper-2

Chapter two LITERATURE REVIEW-3

   2.1 Previous Studies Aboard-3

   2.2 Previous Studies at Home-4

Chapter Three SYBYLLA’S FEMINIST IDEAS-6

   3.1 Sybylla’s Awaking of Feminist Consciousness-6

   3.2 Sybylla’s Development of Independent Character-7

   3.3 Sybylla’s Realization of Self-value-8

Chapter Four THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SYBYLLA’S IMAGE-12

   4.1 The Ideal Product of the Writer-12

   4.2 The Influence on Australian Women-14

Chapter Five CONCLISION-16

REFERENCES-17