Abstract：Michael Cunningham is one of the most proficient writers of the 20th century America in describing and examining female choices and their tragic fate. His representative novel, The Hours, is about the British novelist Virginia Woolf and her masterpiece Mrs. Dalloway. The author through a story happening in one day to a real person and two fictional women depicted their lives in different times and different regions. With three characters living in different eras,  Cunningham revealed the subtle relationship among them by putting three different female characters at the same time dimension, and through the parallel narrative way his novel successfully represented the images of three women who want to break through the bondage of identity, seek the freedom of love, and pursue freedom of choice in life. Due to the exquisite design of the plot of the novel, Cunningham has build a development of the feminist movement in the 20th century.

The purpose of this paper is to expatiate the survival predicament of three heroines and the different choices they make when confronted with life challenges, so as to explore the changes of female living circumstances taking place along the feminist movement.

Keywords: Michael Cunningham; The Hours; Image of Female Characters; Virginia Woolf; Mrs. Dalloway

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

I. Introduction-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Introduction of Feminism in the Novel The Hours-1

1.3 Research Significance-2

1.4 General Layout of This Thesis-2

II. Literature Review-4

2.1 Introduction of The Hours-4

2.2 Previous Studies about The Hours-5

2.3 Originality of This Research-6

III. Analysis of the Female Characters in The Hours-7

3.1 Image of Virginia Woolf-7

3.1.1 A Genius in Novel Writing-7

3.1.2 Homosexuality-9

3.1.3 Strong Belief in Equality between two Genders-10

3.2 Image of Lora brown-11

3.2.1 Considerateness-12

3.2.2 High Self-esteem-12

3.2.3 Eager for Independent Life-13

3.3 Image of Clarissa-14

3.3.1 Independence-14

3.3.2 Perseverance-15

3.3.3 Tyranny-16

3.4 Connection-16

IV. Analysis on the Causes of the Fate of the Female Characters-17

4.1 Influence of Patriarchy-18

4.2 Influence of the Feminism Movements-18

4.3 Personal Experiences-19

V. Conclusion-20

Reference-21

Acknowledgement-21