Abstract

Hierarchy of Needs, a theory put forward by A. H. Maslow, a famous American psychologist, consists of five needs: physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs and the need for self-actualization to describe the different needs human beings pursue and after at their different stages of growth. Based on the theory of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, this paper aims to analyze Sara’s different needs at her different stages of growth in different growing environment and her journey to achieve self-actualization from a wealthy princess envied by many people to a poor princess who remains all her qualities despite of the hard environment, from which Maslow’s theory is shown to be a very important and practical theory to analyze human’s psychology, motivation and self-actualization and a new perspective to research Frances Burnett’s A Little Princess is realized.

Key Words: hierarchy of needs; growth; love and belonging; esteem; self-actualization

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1. Frances Burnett and A Little Princess-1

1.2. Abraham Maslow and Theory of Hierarchy of Needs-1

1.3. The Background and the Significance of the Thesis-1

2. Needs and Satisfaction of Deficiency-needs-3

2.1. Physiological Needs-3

2.1.1. Satisfaction of Physiological Needs-3

2.2. Safety Needs-3

2.2.1. Lack of Safety-3

2.2.2. In Search of Safety-4

2.3. Love and Belonging Needs-4

2.3.1. The Needs for Love and Belonging-4

2.3.2. Love from Ermengarde, Lottie and Becky-5

2.3.3. Love from Small Kids-5

2.3.4. Sara’s Imagination-5

2.4. Esteem-5

2.4.1. The Needs for Esteem-6

2.4.2. Self-esteem-6

2.4.3. Esteem from Ermengarde, Lottie and Becky-6

2.4.4. Esteem from the Baker Woman-7

2.4.5. Esteem from Ram Dass-7

3. Ambition of Self-actualization-8

3.1. Self-actualization-8

3.2. Sara’s Status before Self-actualization-8

3.3. The Factors Driving Sara’s Self-actualization-8

3.3.1. Psychological Implication-8

3.3.2. Help from the Indian Gentleman-9

3.4. The Manifestations of Sara’s Self-actualization-9

4. Conclusion-10

References-11