老姑娘与维多利亚时代的文雅文化——《克兰福镇》的淑女兼及《爱玛》

Old Maids and the Victorian Genteel Culture:Cranford’s Gentlewomen,and Emma

阶层和性别是维多利亚时代淑女身份的两大要素,而婚姻状况亦是不可忽略的身份要素。在维多利亚时代作家伊丽莎白·盖斯凯尔发表于19世纪50年代的小说《克兰福镇》中,尤为凸显的是一群出身中产阶层的老姑娘和寡妇成了女主角,她们深谙文雅文化,善用文雅话语,善用微薄的资财来巩固身份地位,尽显女性的自足与精干。然而,小说并未表现出盲目乐观。在作者的笔端,淑女的才干终究受制于淑女的性别属性。小说恰恰揭示了淑女优越的社会地位及其巩固社会地位的才干掩盖不了其在性别属性上处于附属地位的事实,也改变不了女性命运的底色。《克兰福镇》从老姑娘命运与文雅文化的交织中看到了经济的决定性力量,亦洞见了推动女性命运变化的形势。

Class and gender are the two qualities that make up Victorian gentlewomen’s identity,while marital status also profoundly shapes the life experiences of these women.Among the various Victorian novels,Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford stands out in its constructing a cheerful and self-sufficient existence of old maids and widows who,being heroines,are adept at manipulating the genteel cultural codes and using the scanty material wealth to consolidate their claim to middle class status.However,the novel does not display an unqualified optimism.In Gaskell’s writing,such capability is subject to their gender roles.Despite the gentlewoman’s superior social position and capability of consolidating it,they remain the weaker sex relegated to a subordinate position.Cranford portrays the old maids’dynamic interaction with the genteel culture,reveals the decisive role of economy and highlights the conditions that drive women towards change.