Abstract
The Thorn Birds is the masterpiece of Colleen McCullough, which is famous as Australia’s Gone With The Wind. This novel tells the life experiences and emotional growth spanning among three generations of Cleary family.
This thesis is focusing to analyze of three female’s characters, and explore their pursuit of true love, fight against destiny and their expectation of meaningful life. In the foreword of the thesis, it briefly introduces the novel and the author, the legend of the thorn birds, Subsequently it makes a overview of female’s independent consciousness in the east. Afterwards it reveals the reflection of female’s independent consciousness, which makes a deep analysis for the typical images of Fiona, Maggie and Justine. Finally it is the summary of the female’s characters. The conclusion part is drawn that female is capable to gain happiness and true love as long as they bravely face and challenge the destiny. Furthermore, the happiness and true love should be attained with unthinkable cost.
Key Words: Colleen McCullough, The Thorn Birds, female’s destiny, female's independent consciousness
Contents
1. Introduction.....................................................................................................................3
2. About the novel and its author........................................................................................3
2.1 About the novel.........................................................................................................4
2.2 About the author........................................................................................................4
3.The legend of The Thorn Birds......................................................................................5
4.Overview of female's independent consciousness in the east........................................6
5. The reflection of female's independent consciousness in The Thorn Birds...................6
5.1 An analysis of some typical female images in The Thorn Birds..............................6
5.1.1 Fiona, a silent and depressive woman.............................................................7
5.1.2 Maggie, a vulnerable but persistent woman....................................................7
5.1.3 Justine, a rebellious modern female................................................................7
5.2 A summary of the female’s characters in The Thorn Birds......................................8
6. Conclusion......................................................................................................................9
7. References.....................................................................................................................10
