1. 研究目的与意义（文献综述包含参考文献）

as the most controversial work of jane austen, mansfield park has been interpreted by critics from different angles since its publication. there are innumerable scholars making various comments on mansfield park.

when it turns to characters, most scholars focus on the leading lady, fanny price. for example huang yanmei (2011) has made a detailed analysis of the heroine fanny price. she describes her as a cinderella-like girl, and she analyses from three perspectives: fanny herself is like a cinderella; her family background is similar to that of cinderella; and her living situation is similar, too. also she has a happy ending just as cinderella does. when zhao qiaozhi (2011) talks about fanny price, he highly praises her spirit of resistance against patriarchal cultures. in his eyes, mansfield park is consisted of two resistant issues --- a failing one and a successful one. the failing resistance is raised by mr. and miss. betram. they want to play a show ”lovers#8217; vows” at home when their father is out, but they have to stop when their father is coming home. this is an unsuccessful resistance against patriarchal cultures. then the successful resistance is raised by fanny price --- the poor exile. for her independence and marriage freedom, she ignored henry crawford#8217;s complaisance, sir thomas betram#8217;s threat and edmund betram#8217;s recommendation, and refused henry crawford#8217;s courtship. although her resolve had shaken, she still held her own view finally. this is a successful resistance against patriarchal society raised by fanny price.

a zhiweibumo (2011) focuses on the value of money in mansfield park. this novel conveys a theme that ”money is a cure for happiness”. in this novel, young gentlemen and ladies are drinking tea, talking, riding, hunting, and talking about love everywhere superficially. but most of them are measuring money and marriage when they are laughing with others. people are influenced by capitalism and colonization overseas.

2. 研究的基本内容、问题解决措施及方案

In the hope of figuring out what Mansfield Park tells about, the author has first of all read the Chinese version and all the main characters#8217; names and their relationships with one and another are clearly listed on the notebook in both English and Chinese. In this way, a shorter period of time is needed for getting familiar with the content of the novel. Then, a more visualized method is to watch the movie which is the adaptation of the novel. In the first time, the main objective is to enhance memories of the plots with the help of dynamic three-dimensional images on the screen and vivid sounds. Still watching the movie is not enough, so the author has read the translation version. Meanwhile, the original work is pored over as well. All the sentences, worth elaborating on, are clearly marked. In this way, the characters are becoming alive: young ladies and gentlemen are chatting and laughing on the horses; they are walking on the grass; and they are drinking tea around the table. Another modernized tool --- the Internet also has done the author a great favor, providing her with abundant background information. Without doubt, traditional libraries and E-libraries are indispensible, too. A large number of journals, magazines, books and dissertations in the libraries are at the author#8217;s disposal. The author of this thesis can either integrate similar viewpoints over Mansfield Park or make a comparison between two opposing viewpoints, aiming at backing up her opinions. Reading books, watching movies, taking notes, turning to the Internet and the libraries, and discussing with the supervisor are the main methods of this study.

The thesis consists of three parts. The first part will primarily provide the background information, including a general introduction of Jane Austen (her personal experiences, literary career, reputation and masterpieces), the novel Mansfield Park (reception and summary), literature reviews and the purpose of the study. The second part is the focus of the thesis. In this part, the study will firstly give a summary of the women#8217;s status in the 19^th century in England, and then turn to the female characters in Mansfield Park. Subsequently, a detailed critical analysis, showing the place of female characters in Mansfield Park, will be made. It will show three kinds of female characters in Mansfield Park. Some of them have seemingly high status; some of them have seemingly equal status; the other of them have obviously low status. Through the critical analysis, it will be found that all of women have lower status than men. Next, the study will further explore why these women have such low status. It#8217;s due to the economical and political situation in that period. Part three will draw a conclusion, showing that with the time going, women#8217;s status has improved a lot today.