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摘 要

随着全球化的发展，文化的相互交融也是必然趋势。《飘》与《红楼梦》并没有在同一时期问世，但这两部作品均表现出作者所属时代的矛盾与冲突。不难看出，他们文学作品中的人物——王熙凤与斯嘉丽有着些许共同点。在文学领域中，这两位处于社会转型期的女主人公均成为了有争议的女性形象。本文以比较文学的平行研究为切入点，对王熙凤和斯嘉丽这两位角色进行比较研究。首先介绍这两位女主人公的人物形象，然后再一一对比，发现相似点与不同之处，进而探索造成这些差异的原因。

关键词：王熙凤；斯嘉丽；对比研究

Contents

1.Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 1

3. The Character Analysis 2

3.1 The Character Analysis of Wang Xifeng 2

3.2 The Character Analysis of Scarlett 4

4. The Comparison between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett 5

4.1 The Similarity between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett 6

4.2 The Difference between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett 6

5. Causes of the Difference between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett 7

6. Conclusion 7

Works Cited 8

Introduction

A Dream of Red Mansions, written by Cao Xueqin in the middle of the eighteenth century during the Qing Dynasty, is a description of the old Chinese feudal system which falls into decay. The novel is remarkable for its huge characters, most of which are females. Wang Xifeng is a female character that the author of A Dream of Red Mansions focuses on portraying. Early critics represented by Zhi Yanzhai and Wang Xilian criticized Wang Xifeng, one of Twelve Beauties of Jinling， from different points of view with concise and scattered language. They paid their most attention to Wang’s personalities, in which they have got great achievements. For example, they have pointed out Wang’s linguistic features, scheming thinking, greed, carnality, fierce jealousy and maliciousness. (Cai Yuanpei, 2005:41) All of these views are still basic consensus in Redology. However, critics tend to be trapped into biased views because of feudal morality. After the Republic of China(1912—1942), China witnessed several major social changes as well as the literature trend. During this period, Cai Yuanpei was the most representative person who studied Wang Xifeng. Since the 1980s, the academic researched has corrected its early biased views gradually. Modern scholars have introduced some new thoughts and methods to study Wang, which has enriched Wang’s image greatly. As a result, some new views show their complicated emotions, such as appreciation, sympathy, regret and blame for Wang Xifeng.

1. Literature Review

Gone with the Wind is the only work with one million words of American female writer —Margaret·Mitchell, which was first published in the year of 1936. Its publication has caused great impacts not only in America but also in the world. This novel has won its innumerable readers all around the world because of its pathetic and exquisite style. It is only second to Bible on sales volume. However, the status of Gone with the Wind in American literature is not that high. In foreign nations, this bestselling novel, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1937, do not get specific related comments. Some literary history and handbooks only make comments on this novel with very few words, even none. Although American literary field belittles the literary values of Gone with the Winds on purpose, thinking it only one popular novel, the fact that Gone with the Wind has been a best-seller for decades has win its position as a classic work. The foreign studies on the main female character—Scarlett O’Hara mainly focus on her aesthetic values. American poet, a typical representative called John P. Bishop said: “In any case, Scarlett is never justified cents.”(Wikipedia) Many scholars think that Scarlett is so mean and selfish that no one can be comparable. However, some scholars represented by Helen Foster Snow, an American progressive writer, hold positive attitudes towards Scarlett. They think her a heroine in American females’ heart. Also, they believe that Scarlett’ spirit of struggle is the reflection of the American personality.

Parallel study is the main method in Comparative Literature on condition that different nations and eras have common literary rules. The publications of A Dream of Red Mansions and Gone with the Wind were not at the same period, but the distance of time and space did not become the obstacle of these two authors’ recognition to their own society where an old system was falling into decay. A Dream of Red Mansions and Gone with the Wind are both classical realistic literary works that are the real reflection of social conflicts as well as the beauty and ugliness of human nature. As main female characters, Wang Xifeng and Scarlett are of comparability. At present, there are only a few papers on the comparative study on Wang Xifeng and Scarlett, most of which are still focus on the flaws of their personality. The author of this article attempts to illustrate that Wang Xifeng and Scarlett are not only the represents of selfishness and self-interest, but also the women with feminism consciousness who dare to challenge the traditional concept.

This paper introduces the images of Scarlett and Wang Xifeng first and then has a comparison study between them to find their similarities and differences. Further more, by comparison, causes that resulted in these differences can be explored, which is the most important part of this thesis.

3. The Character Analysis

3.1 The Character Analysis of Wang Xifeng

The publication of A dream of Red Mansions shows us not only the love tragedy between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu, but also a lot of different female images. Wang Xifeng is one of the most important characters in this masterpiece. The author of A Dream of Red Mansions gives much attention to the descriptions of Xifeng. There is no doubt that it is Wang Xifeng that makes this book much more vivid. At the beginning of this book, the author gives Wang Xifeng a special appearance:

“Just then they heard peals of laughter from the back courtyard and a voice cried:

“I am late in greeting our guest from afar!”

Daiyu thought with surprise, “The people here are so respectful and solemn, they all seem to be holding their breath. Who can this be, so boisterous and pert?”

While she was still wondering, through the back door trooped some matrons and maids surrounding a young woman. Unlike the girls, she was richly dressed and resplendent as a fairy.

Her gold-filigree tiara was set with jewels and pearls. Her hair-clasps, in the form of five phoenixes facing the sun, had pendants of pearls. Her necklet, of red gold, was in the form of a coiled dragon studded with gems. She had double red jade pendants with pea-green tassels attached to her skirt.” (Cao Xueqin, 2012: 50)

The descriptions above about Wang Xifeng are very vivid. Her voice coming out before herself is readers’ first impression. Her clothes are very luxurious, which suggests her status in Rong Mansion. She is very beautiful and clever and knows how to please Lady Dowager. So, Lady Dowager loves her and calls her “Hot Pepper” and “Fiery Phoexix”. From the reaction of the servants, we can know that they are afraid of Wang Xifeng, which shows her power.

Wang Xifeng is very talented. She was born noble in the Wang Family which is described as “If the Dragon King wants a white jade bed, he applies to the Wangs of Jinling.”(Cao Xueqin, 2012: 72) She is in charge of Jia family’s personal management and financial management. Xifeng is educated like a boy so she knows more about interpersonal relations. The death of Keqing is arranged by the author on purpose to show Xifeng’s extraordinary talent. In Chapter 13 “Xifeng Helps to Manage Affairs in the Ning Mansion”, Cao Xueqin tells us that “Xifeng loves nothing better than displaying her administrative ability.”(Cao Xueqin, 2012: 247) However, there is no doubt that Wang Xifeng is a qualified administrator. She points out five distinguishing features of the Ning Mansion at once. No women in Jia’s family can do better than Xifeng in management.

Wang Xifeng is also very vicious, cruel, and greedy. Jia Rui is a victim of her cruelty. In Chapter 12 “Xifeng Sets a Vicious Trap for a Lover”, it contributes to the death of Jia Rui. In Chapter 15, Xifeng abuses her power at Iron Threshold Temple, which indicates her greed. The death of Second Sister is the best evidence that Wang Xifeng is very vicious. She kills her rival by proxy.

As a woman, Wang Xifeng has many roles to play in her life, the most important two roles of which are a wife and a mother. As a strong woman, she is a successor, but as a wife, she is a loser. Love is not the foundation of her marriage with Jia Lian, but the family profit is. She can not get her husband’s loyalty to their marriage. Although she kills Second Sister and disregards the authority of her husband, she is also the victim of federal marriage. As a mother, Wang Xifeng has no difference with other mothers in the world. She has only one child and she cares her only daughter very much. In Chapter 42, Xifeng is worried that her Diajie is always ailing, so she says to Granny Liu: “By the way, she has no name yet. You give her one so that she can share your good fortune and live as long as you.” (Cao Xueqin, 2012: 840) Before dying, Xifeng asks Granny Liu to take care of Qiaojie. All these can indicate that Xifeng is a qualified mother.

The verdict of Wang Xifeng concludes her whole life:

This bird appears when the world falls on evil times;

None but admires her talents and her skill;

First she complies, then commands, then is dismissed,

Departing in tears to Jinling more wretched still. (Cao Xueqin, 2012: 96)

3.2 The Character Analysis of Scarlett

Scarlett O’Hara, born in a family with plantation, is a woman of dual personality. She seems to be grace, gentle and quiet, but in fact, she is capricious and strong in her heart. Although her father Gerald was not born noble, he had his own achievements by hard work. When Scarlett was born, her family has been in upper class. Scarlett’s mother, Ellen O’Hara who seems to be strict but is honest and simple in fact, is gentle, virtuous and competent. Scarlett also has a black mammy and two sisters. By rights, Scarlett should be a fair lady as grace and gentle as other girls. However, beyond everyone’s expectation, she just looks like a fair lady. Just as the book says, her green eyes in the carefully sweet face were turbulent, willful, lusty with life, distinctively at variance with her decorous demeanour.

Before American Civil War, in the planters’ eyes, only the land is eternal. There is a dialogue between Scarlett and her father below:

“I wouldn’t have Cade on a silver tray,” cried Scarlett in fury. “And I wish you’d quit pushing him at me! I don’t want Tara or any old plantation. Plantation don’t amount to anything when—”

She was going to say “when you haven’t the man you want,” but Gerald, incensed by the cavalier way in which she treated his proffered gift, the thing which, next to Ellen, he loved best in the whole world, uttered a roar..

“Do you stand there, Scarlett O’Hara, and tell me that Tara—that land—doesn’t amount to anything?”

Scarlett nodded obstinately. Her heart was too sore to care whether or not she put her father in a temper. (Mitchell, 2006: 34)

From the dialogue above, we can know at that time Scarlett was a little girl knowing nothing about the life and reality. With a rich and easy life, what Scarlett cares only is that how much men her beautiful appearance can attract. Scarlett has no concern for the war and politics and what her wants is only Ashley. To her, love is the most important thing in the world. After knowing that Ashley will marry with Melanie Hamilton, Scarlett confesses her love to Ashley but refused. Due to jealousy, she marries to Melanie’s younger brother—Charles. Although it is very brave of her to dare love and hate in traditional American south, all of these indicate Scarlett’s egoism. Even after giving birth to a child, she only cares her 17—inch waist.

After marriage, especially after her father’s death, Scarlett shows more self-reliance, kindness and strong will. She becomes a widow at the age of 17. What’s worse, the war destroys all her life and she is no longer the princess. On one hand, she should take care of Melanie who is going to give birth to a child. On the other hand, her mother is critically ill. In fact, she could leave Melanie alone, but she doesn’t. Without a doctor, Scarlett helps Melanie’s delivery although Melanie is Ashley’s wife. The flames of the war rages Atlanta, Scarlett only wants to go home. She thinks she can live as before at home. However, a disaster is waiting for her—starvation. Her family members have nothing to eat. Scarlett discards her noble pride, working like a black slave and enduring the pain, hunger, humiliation and hurt, but she overcomes all of these. At this moment, Scarlett can understand her father’s love to the land. She swears “As God is my witness, I’ll never be in hunger again.” The hard life makes her understand the cruelty of reality and endows her with courage. Now, land has been part of Scarlett’s life.

Scarlett is very vainglorious. She has three marriages in her life. The first marriage is with Charles, which is to take revenge on Ashley and seems to be naïve. However, Scarlett has considered about Charles’s property. Her second marriage is with Frank Kennedy who should be her sister’s fiancé. The purpose of her second marriage is to get rid of poverty. Her third marriage is with Rhett Butler, which is to get a luxurious life to satisfy her own vanity.

Scarlett lives for the future not for the past. At the end of the book, when Rhett leaves her, she states painfully: “I’ll think of it all tomorrow, at Tara. I can stand it then. Tomorrow, I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day.” (Mitchell, 2006: 1009) “Tomorrow is another day”, this sentence has been the symbol of Scarlett’s personality and has influenced a lot of readers.

As a mother, Scarlett is not a successor and she dislikes children. To her, children are burdensome and can only cry. In the book, there are rarely descriptions of how Scarlett brings up her children, which indicates that Scarlett is not a qualified mother. In conclusion, Scarlett is selfish, immature and vainglorious, but she is also very strong, confident and kind, which is a real character in readers’ heart.

4 The Comparison between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett

4.1 The Similarity between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett

First of all, they have similar family background and social environment. Both of them are born noble, which this paper has introduced above. They experience ups and downs in their life. They are the witness of history.

Secondly, both Wang Xifeng and Scarlett are talented. Xifeng is in charge of family’s personal management and financial management and she even helps to manage affairs in the Ning Mansion. Mrs. Zhou says: “Young as she is, she handles things much better than anyone else.” (Cao Xueqin, 2012: 121) Scarlett inherits her father’s shrewd business mind. When she is facing the poverty, hunger and hardships, she helps her family to come over all the difficulties. Scarlett manages her own timber mill.

Thirdly, both of them have feminist consciousness. The society shapes their personality. In chapter 65, Jia Lian has a love affair with Second Sister You secretly, and arranges a house for her. After knowing this, Wang Xifeng is afraid of losing her husband and her position in the Jia family if Second Sister You has a son. After consideration, she designs to drive away Second Sister You. All her actions are actually the embodiments of feminist consciousness. She fights against the polygamy and longs for the marriage equality. In the feudal society, marriage is the only way for women to get a better life. Once they find their husbands have lovers outside, they have no choice but to reconcile, while Wang Xifeng is a new kind of woman. She is a shrew. At the beginning, she tries her best to keep her marriage happy, but in vain. She knows her husband so well that she has to maintain her marriage by her power. However, her feminist consciousness is inhibited by the old conventions. Actually, her love and marriage are the embodiment of her feminist consciousness. She is reluctant to accept her father’s arranged marriage for her. She dares pursue her love and her happiness. Scarlett is a new kind of woman seeking for love equality. She confesses her love to Ashley bravely. Although she is refused, she does not abandon her dream to marry Ashley. No matter what makes her marry others, she loves Ashley all the time until she finds her true love. She has great confidence to life and to love. She never resigns herself to men. When Rhett leaves her, she still has the confidence to let him come back. Even though all her marriages are tragic, she has initiative in her love and always plays a dominant role in her marriages. She can do whatever she wants to regardless of other’s judgments.

4.2 The Difference between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett

Although Wang Xifeng and Scarlett have many similarities, it is their difference that makes the comparative study between them more interesting. The biggest difference between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett is their way of doing things and management. The mode of thinking in China is different from in Western nations. Scarlett is simple, frank, independent and adventurous. She is not afraid of facing any difficulties and never loses hopes about future. In her heart, any way, tomorrow is another day. However, because of her ignorance of the interpersonal relation, she loses her friends and lover. Wang Xifeng is implicit, nimble and a perfect mixer in any company. She is good at using all the social relations to maintain her status in Rong Mansion.

The second difference is their values on love and marriage. Both of them have tough marriage, but they take different attitudes towards their marriage. In the feudal family, Wang Xifeng has no choice to pursue her love and marriage. She has to reconcile and marries a person whose family has a great property and a prominent status in the society. Polygamy is a root of the women’s tragic destiny. Her love and marriage are destroyed by the feudal society. Scarlett is relatively free and independent. She has rights to choose her husband and marriage, although all her marriage is destroyed by her values. Love is part of her life. Scarlett is a strong woman and even after Rhett’s leaving she still holds hopes and never gives up.

The third difference is their personality. Wang Xifeng seems kind but in fact she is vicious and Scarlett seems cruel but the truth is that she is a kind woman, which forms an obvious contrast. To maintain her status of administration, Wang Xifeng indirectly kills some people. She must be responsible for the death of Second Sister. She has no friends except Qin Keqin, but Keqin dies at a young age. To Scarlett, Melanie is her rival in love, but during the war, she follows her promise to take care of Melanie. She even helps Melanie to give birth to a child and takes them to Tara no matter how tough she is. Wang Xifeng can not do these at all.

Finally, their endings are different. Although Rhett left Scarlett, she has been a wealthy woman already. However, the destiny of Wang Xifeng is a tragedy. As a mother, Wang Xifeng is much more qualified. At last, Scarlett loses her daughter but Wang Xifeng has entrusted her daughter to Granny Liu.

5. Causes of the Difference between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett

Id is the most important reason that causes their difference. The id consists of various primitive desires and instincts. What they choose to do is just to satisfy their own needs and desires. Wang Xifeng wants to be powerfui so that she can do anything she wants in Jia family. If someone or something affects her status, she will try her best to dispose of all troubles. Wang Xifeng chooses to be cruel, vicious and shrewd because she needs to maintain her status and marriage. Scarlett pursues her love, happiness and self-value all her life. Comparing to other traditional women, she is more willing to live according to her own desire. All what she does is for her own benefit. To survive, she can even sacrifice others’ happiness. In order to satisfy her own vanity, Scarlett lures men, including Frank, her sister’s fiancé. To get 300 dollars, she cheats Frank and marries him. When she manages a Sawmill, she employs prisoners to work so that she can pay less salary. Scarlett’s family is destroyed by the war, to survive, she has to do what she hates doing—make a living. Getting married is a way of surviving and having a shelter. So, it is id that mainly causes the difference between Wang Xifeng and Scarlett.

The second element that causes the difference is their family education. Both of them are born in a rich family and some of their personalities are like boys’, but there is still some difference. Wang Xifeng is educated as a boy by her family so she is passive. However, Scarlett is educated to be a fair lady but. It is herself that chooses to act like a boy. What is more, born in a federal family, Wang Xifeng is educated to be a mannered woman, which means that she should follow her family and her husband. Her husband is a necessary part of her life. As a result, she has to do a lot to prevent her husband’s affairs. Wang Xifeng can not live without her family and husband. Without her family, she will be nobody. As to Scarlett, she is born in a slaveholder family. She is educated to become a fair lady and an owner of a land. Although she does not choose to be a fair lady, her character of a slaveholder can be shown evidently. Both of Wang Xifeng and Scarlett are affected by their family education.

The third reason is their social environment. Wang Xifeng’ values and personality are the reflection of her education and social environment. Her hypocrisy, duplicity and cruelty are the epitome of Jia, Wang, Shi, Xue—four families. Wang Xifeng lives in a society which is falling into decay. No matter how talented she is, she can not change history and the regular of social development. Her social environment does not have a future, but Wang Xifeng can not realize this. As a result, she dies out with the feudal system. Scarlett inherits her father’s talent of doing business. Although her three marriages are all tragic, she always gets or learn something from her marriages. She hates the war but when the war comes, she can defeat it. After the war, she is no longer the naïve little girl. She becomes a mature lady. In such a confusing society, she saves herself from the shackle of feudal system. She can adapt to the social changes and becomes a member of the rising bourgeoisie, which makes Scarlett have a different ending with Wang Xifeng.

6. Conclusion

As popular novels, both A Dream of Red Mansions and Gone with the Wind are the reflection of social reality and female images. As main characters, both Wang Xifeng and Scarlett have become the controversial roles in the women image of the world history.

Although Wang Xifeng is vicious, greedy and cruel, her ability of financial administration is outstanding. She is also very articulate. Wang Xifeng is not only a great administrator, but also an excellent diplomatist. Recently, a lot of books on Wang Xifeng’s diplomatic ability have caused a big stir in our society. Women as well as many men begin to support her and learn from her now. More and more people know Scarlett O’Hara by the film Gone with the Wind. Many women with independent consciousness are in favor of this selfish lady. Faced with poverty, hunger and hardships, Scarlett never gives up, which has encouraged a lot of women to fight against the reality.

By comparison, this paper proves that Wang Xifeng and Scarlett are the typical examples of selfishness and greed. Also, they are smart and brave enough to challenge the authority of man, this thesis holds that the two females are new women with feminist consciousness.

Works cited

[1] Cao Xueqin. A Dream of Red Mansions. Beijing: Beijing Foreign Language Press, 2012.

[2] Lan Zhaojing. An Analysis of Scarlett’s Realistic Characteristic in Gone with the Wind. Sichuan: Read and Write Periodical, 2008.

[3] Mitchell , Margaret. Gone With the Wind. Zhuhai: Zhuhai Press, 2006.

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