Abstract

A Dream of Red Mansions written by Cao Xueqin and Jane Eyre by Charloote Bronte are two immortal works shining respectively in the Eastern and Western literature history. The two works, especially the two protagonists: Lin Daiyu and Jane Eyre, exerted great significance on the later literature creation. They had both similarities and differences: both of them made a living depending on their relatives, but they had different fates; both of them had aspiration for love, but they had different attitudes towards it; both of them had rebellious spirits, but they had different ways to resist. In the literature world, researchers paid more attention on their similarities instead of differences. So this paper tries to compare the personality of Lin Daiyu and Jane Eyre from three perspectives: different social systems, different fundamentals of their value and diverse religious beliefs.

Key words: Lin Daiyu  Jane Eyre  differences in personality

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

1.Introduction . 1

2. Their Similarities in Fate1

2.1 Life experience.1

2.2 Aspiration for love.2

2.3 Rebellion for life.3

3. Their Differences in Characteristics.4

3.1 Attitudes towards life4

3.2 Love values5

3.3 Spirit of rebellion.6

4. Main Influential Factors of Their Differences in Characteristics 7

4.1 Different social systems.7

4.1.1 The social system affecting Lin Daiyu 7

4.1.2 The social system affecting Jane Eyre.8

4.2 Fundamentals of their value.8

4.2.1 The value of Lin Daiyu deriving from Chinese culture.8

4.2.2 The value of Jane Eyre deriving from Western culture.9

4.3 Influence of diverse religious beliefs 10

4.3.1 The impact of Chinese religious belief on Lin Daiyu.10

4.3.2 The impact of Western religious belief on Jane Eyre11

5. Conclusion ... 12

Works Cited . 13