OntheImageofSouthernGentlewomenaftertheCivilWar——AnalysisfromtheTennesseeWilliam’sAStreetcarNamedDesireAbstractKeywords:TheCivilWarwasamajoreventinAmericanhistory.Itexertsanprofoundinfluenceonthewholesociety,especiallytotheSouth.ItKeywords:Southerngentlewomen,TheCivilWar,TheTragedy,declineIntroductionTheCivilWarwasamajoreventinAmericanhistory.Itexertsanprofoundinfluenceonthewholesociety,especiallytotheSouth.Itsymbolizedtheendofthesouthernplantationeconomyandtheslavery.Itdeniedthesoutherntraditionsandvalueswhichwasbasedonthiseconomy.ThewargravedpainfulmemoriesandtaughtaprofoundlessontopeopleintheSouth.Withmemoryfadingaway,SouthSideslowlyregainedstrengthandbraceduptofacethereality.Asaresult,theSouthwritersbegantoself-analyzeandcriticize,whichusheredinthesouthoftheRenaissance.Thetragicfailure,gravesin,historicalburdenanddepressedstatus,combinedwithauniquenarrative,madetheSouthernliteraturedifferent.Thoughfamousfortheviolenceandgrotesque,theSouthernLiteraturebearacharacterofextraordinarilyaestheticsenseofthecharm.IntheSouthernLiterature,southerngentlewomenleftaprofoundimpressiononreadersbyitsmysteryandabnormity.Someofthemweredistorted,somecrazy,somecorrupted,somegrotesque.ThroughtheanalysisoftheimagesofafterthecivilwarinAmericanliterature,wecanhaveamoreclearlyideaabouttheinfluenceofthecivilwarontheSoutherngentlewomen.1theanalysisofsoutherngentlewomen’simageinAmericanliterature1.1TheTraditionalImageofSouthernGentlewomenbeforetheCivilWarTheplantationeconomyhelpedtherisingoftheplantationaristocracy,withcavalierandgentlewomen,withdelicatebanquetandhappyparties.Inthesocietylikethat,thegentlewomenwerepure,carefreeandfanciful,withoutworryingthelife.Alltheyneededtodowastobeagooddaughter,wifeandmother.Especiallyfortheyounggentlewomeninthesouth,theyareindulgedandsometimesevenirrational.Theyshoutedattotheirslaversaslongastheydidn’tsatisfyifanytheirmeets.Theywelldresseduptoattendpartyandplayedwithcavaliers,sometimesevenflirtwiththem.Theyenjoyedasenseofsuperiorityandwereaccustomedtotheluxurylife.1.2TheNewImageofSouthernGentlewomenaftertheCivilWarThecivilwarbrokethebeautifulsoutherndream.TheSouthwasdefeatedbytheNorth,notonlymilitarily,economicallybutalsoculturally,spiritually.They,afterthecivilwar,werenotdominatoranymore.Theywerethefailure.Gentlewomen,declinedtogetherwiththeSouth,underwentagreatchange.mageinWorksofWilliamFaulknerThegreatestSouthernwriterWilliamFaulknerinhisvoluminouswritingsshapesalargegroupofmemorablefemalefigures.ForexampleinAbsalom,Absalom!,Rosabecomesaalivedead,andshemakesherselfisolatedfor43years.WomeninworksofWilliamFaulkner,whetherareawareofthechangedsituation。］not,arelivinginastateofisolation.Theyputthemselvesconfinedtothepast,readytopasstheoldsystemdie.Theysawnoneedornocapacitytoadapttothenewsituationandarecompletelyrejectedbythisattitude,theyaretryingtokeepSoutherngentlewomenintheirownimage.mageinWorksofMargaretMitchellTheotherwomeninSouthernliteratureisjusttheopposite,theyarereadytocompletegiveupthetradition.Thewomenclearlyrecognizethatthepastisnotheavenandtheyarenotcapabletokeepthesupremacyandfantasyofbeautifullife.However,theydonothaveenoughpowertoopenuptheNewWorld.Thereforetheyfollowthecrowdandinstinctandaredrivenbypressureandinterests.ForexampleinthenovelGonewiththeWind,theprotagonistScarletO'Haraisambitiousanduseseverymeanstoachievewhatshepursues.Shedevelopmentfromaspoiledyoungladytoawomanwithpower.Shecompletesaself-transformationthroughchangeandprocess.Inordertosurviveandtohelpfamiliesduringthewaryears,shegivesupheridentityofacistocrary.Theharshrealityforceshertogiveupdignityandprinciples.Becauseofherintelligence,Scarletis,intheSoutherngentlewomen,thefirsttoadapttoenvironmentalchange.Reviewingtheimagesofsoutherngentlewomenafterthecivilwar,theyholddifferentattitudestowardtheoldSouth,choosedifferentlifestylesandleadadifferentfuture.ThefutureofSoutherngentlewomenliesintheirchoices.CharacterAnalysisofBlancheinAStreetcarNamedDesireSouthernAristocracyFamilyBorninanaristocraticfamilyintheAmericanSouth，BlancheDuBois，whosesurnamesuggestsandinheritancefromtheFrenchgentry,isproudforherhighborngentility.ItiswellknownthatFrenchusedtobealanguagefortheEnglishnobilitiesandaFrenchsurnamemaysuggestgloriousancestryinthefamilyhistory.ThisconventionhasbeeninheritedandanyassociationwithFrancetendstoinspireirrationaladmirationandsubmissiverespectintheAmericancollectiveunconsciousness.Forthesouthernaristocracy,thiswasnoexceptional.TheyendeavoredintheirboastingofFrenchancestryanddeliberatelydefinedthemselvesastheprivilegedclass,pretendingthenobilityofbirthgrantedtheirlegitimacyofsupremacy,whereasinfactitwasthireeconomicalbasisthatensuredtheirdominationoftheSouthernplantations.Theamusingpartisthatthelieswhichthesearistocratsconstructedtofoolthesuppressedpeopleinreturnadvertentlydevelopedintoanindispensablespiritualpillarforthemselves.Thesenoblemen,aftergenerationsofeducationbasedonsuchafantasticillusion,becamedeeplyconvincedbytheirowncreations.EspeciallywhentheyfoundouttheireconomicinferioritytotheNorthandwereseverelycriticizedfortheinhumanslaverysystem,theywereinsoreneedofsomethingtorelyonsothattheycouldrestoretothemselvesthelostconfidencebeforetheCivilWarbrokeout.Inheryouth,Blanchehasreceivedaneducationthatinstructshertobealady,whichentails,generallyspeaking,purityandchastity,intellectuality,competenceinartsandlanguage(thegracefulFrench>andpoetry,andsoon,andaboveall,alletiquettesofagenteelsociety.Theirroleasladiesisnottobeindependent。contrarily,theyweresupposedtobedependent,entertainingthegentlemenwitheveryartifice,asBlancheconfessesinSceneSixthatforher“thelawofnature”is“theladymustentertainthegentleman”.Theirvaluesliesintheircultivatedintelligenceandbreeding,which“canenrichaman’slife--immeasurably”.Theiridealperfectionisachievedwhentheyarecourtedby“gentlemencallers”andmarriedtothem.Inshort,theirexistenceissecondarytomen,likeparasites.Asawhole,theoriginofSouthernAristocracyfamilyplaysanimportantroletothecharacterofBlanche.TheSouthernoldvaluesaffectBlancheprofoundlyallherlifetime.Sheissensitiveandfeelsasenseofsupremacy.Fromafeministperspective,Blancheisavictiminamasculinesociety.Hertragedyinpartliesinherownbeliefs.SheinheritstheneuroticidealismfromherancestorsandthisdefinesherasarepresentativefigureforthedecadentSouthernculture.AsBigsbynotes,Blancheis“aperfectimageoftheSouth”.Alcohol,LightandBathBlanchealwayswantstodrinkliquor.Theliquormaybeananesthetictoherandtheliquorpossiblycanmakeherforgetthepainfulmemories.Besides,thelightalsoplaysanimportantroleinherlife,forshealwayswantstoturnoffthelightsothatshewontbelookedatinthemercilessglare.Thelightrepresentstherealitywhichshetriestoescapefromandthatalsomeansshedoesn’twanttoexposeherweakness(herage>infrontofpeople.Aswecanknow,Blanchetriestodefendherselfbydoingsomeactionssuchasturningoffthelightorwrappingthebulbinordernottomaketherealityrevealthefragilebottomofherheart.What’smore,Blanchealwaystakesabathtocalmher.Withtheshower,itseemsthatthewatertakeshersorrows,concernsandsinsaway.Inmyopinion,alcohol,lightandbathreflectthefragilityandsensitivityintheheartofherhearts.Shelivesinasociety,wheresheisseverelyharmedanddepressed.Shetriesheralleffortstodefendherself.Pretendingmakesherfeelbetter,atthesametime,shebecomeshypocritical.Itistherealitythatshapeshercharacter.RebelliontotheRealityAlthoughBlanchehadbeenhurtbyherlasthusband,shestilldesiretoseekforaman.Sheimagesandarrangeseverythingromanticsothatshecankeepherprideandideal.AlthoughBlanchedoesn’tlivesaaffluentlife,sheinsiststokeepherdelicateclothesandjewelry.AlthoughshehasdeclinedwiththefailureoftheSouth,shecontinuetokeepsomeoldtraditionsandvalues.SheevenlooksdownupontheStanley,thesymbolicoftheNorth.ShescoldsStanleyforhisrudenessandilliteracy.Fromthesefacts,wecanreachaconclusionthatshetriestorebeltothereality.Andthewaysherebelstothesocietyistokeepherprideandtopretendingherself.Actually,itisnotrealrebeltothesociety,itisakindofescapefromtherealitywhichshedoesn’twanttofacewith.ThefakerebeltotherealitygivesthehintofBlanche’shypocrisy,aswellashertragedy.Inthedrama,Blanchecouldn’tgooutatdaytimeandputtedpaperlampshadeoverthelightbulb.OnlyindarknesscanBlanchefeelrelaxandfreely.Althoughsheisutterlydiscredited,shealwayshidesthetruthtomakeherbecomeanoblewoman.Whensheexplainesthereasonwhyshecometohersister’s,shedidn’tsayanywordsaboutkickingoutfromtheschool.InordertomarryMitch,sheconcealsherrealageandoldexperiences.Ontheonehand,wearelikelytoblameforherhypocrisy.However,ontheotherhand,weshowagreatsympathytohertragedy.TheCausesofBlanche’sTragedyTheCauseofBlanche’sOwnCharacterBlanchehaseverreceivedtraditionaleducationandlivedatranquillifeintheSoutherntransplantation.Sheisbornakindandinnocentcharacterandthereexistsbeautifulexpectationandyearningforabetterandbrighterfutureinhermind.However,asthedecliningofherfamily,Blanchegraduallyfeelsthehardshipsanddifficultiesinlife.Theenjoymentoflifehasbecomeacourseoftorment.Becauseshealwayshasgenuinefeelingsinhermind,shecan’tfacetheuglinessinlifeandaccepttheunjustfateallatonce.WhatstrikesherstronglyfirstisthatherhusbandAllenwhoisaninnocentchildinhermindishomosexual.Sheisshockedatthescenebecauseofherbeinginnocentinsexandbeingimbuedwiththeoldpuritanethics.RegardlessofAllen’shopeforhelp,Blanchedrunkenlytoldhimthathe“disgusted”her.Thiscauseshissuicide.Fromthenon,Blanchehasbeenpunishingherselfsubconsciouslyinhermind.Meanwhile,herfamilyundergoesaseriesofmisfortunes.Blancheisafflictedwithallthesewhichmakeherdepressedandlonelyandshecan’tacceptthehugediscrepancyofherlife.Shewantstobreakthroughthesefettersandleadasteadylifethatisfreefromcareandanxieties.ThiskindofafflictioninhermindleavesBlancheinalopsidedstate.Asshefumblesherwayinthedark,unfortunatelyshechoosesawrongway.BlanchebeginstodegeneratebyherintimacywithstrangersbecauseofhersimplethoughtSheeitherwantstofillherlonelinessbyinstinctorwantstopunishherselfandfightagainstthetraditionbymeansofthesexualindulgence.TheinnocentandkindcharacterofBlanchemakeshereasytobelieveinmenandshejustwantstodependonmentosolveallthetroublesinlife.Butthingsturnoutcontrarytoherwishes.Thoughshecangettemporarypleasure，allthatshehasdonecan’tmakeupforherscarinherheart.Itjustmakesherlostinthechangingandcomplicatedworld.What’sworseshegraduallylosesherreputationandpropertyforheractionsandisevenregardedasawomanerotomaniainherhometown.Finally,sheisdrivenoutofhometownandgoestohersister’shouseforshelter.Althoughsheisnowinabadsituation,byinstinct,shestillyearnsforanewlife.However,Blanchecan’tmakeacorrectevaluationofsituationsinthenewenvironmentandsheusuallygoesfromoneextremetoanother,whichreflectsthecontradictedcharacter.Ontheonehand,shecanhaveareasonableattitudeoverreality.ForherownfutureandhersisterStella’sinterest,Blancheactuallytriesallshecan.SheexplainspatientlyandcarefullytoStanleyaboutthelossofBelleReveandavoidstheconflictsbetweenthematthebeginning.ShehasadeepinsightintotheevilnatureofStanleyandadvisesreasonablyStellatoleaveStanleywithher.ShealsocriticizeStella’swrongattitudeovermarriageandlove.Shemakesgreateffortstopursueherideallife.Ontheotherhand,Blancheregardedillusionasawayofescapingthereality.Whenmeetswithdedicateissuesinlife,sheisoftenimmersedinillusiontoeasehersufferingsandlookforsomecomforts.Moreover,Blanchehasstillbeenkeepingherpastgentlewoman’simageinordertoincreaseherconfidence,whileherpainfulpastalwaysappearsinhermindandleavesherinahystericalstate.WhenBlanchearrivesinNewOrleans,herdressisclearlyoutofplace。hermannerisdaintyandfrail,andshesportsawardrobeofshowybutcheapeveningclothes。sheinsistsonpowderingherfaceatthedoorofthehouseintheanticipationofmalecompanionandgreetspolitelywhenpassingbeforethem。sheisfrightenedwiththeviolenceandrudenessofStanleyanddescribeshim“l(fā)ikeananimal,anape,survivorofthestoneage”.ItisobviousthatBlanche’sgracefulbehaviorsisgreatlycontradictorytotheenvironmentswhereshelives.Peopleherepayattentiontomaterialgains,reallifeandproperty.AndsomeofthemaredisgustedwithBlanche’sgracefulnessanscivilizedpresentation.ThecontradictionbetweentheSoutherncivilizationandtheNorthprosperityreflectsintheBlanche’snewlifeinNewOrleans.ThedivisionofBlanche’scharactermakesherunabletomakerightchoicebravelywhenfacingthereality.ShestickstoherownSouthernculturalpropertyandalwaysperformsherdaintymanners.ToBlanche,itisright,andshecan’tgobeyondherlifevalues.Butinthenewenvironment,thisisnotareasonablewayoflife.Williams’ssuccessfulcharacterizationofBlancheinhersensitive,frailandkindcharacter，which,tosomeextent,causesthetragedyofBlanche.Shehastobeexcludedfromthesocietyandisdoomedtoherdestructionbecauseshecan’tbeadmittedbythesociety.Thoughshehasevermadegreateffortstoshowanewselfandmakealiving,hercontradictedcharactermakesherunabletofacetherealitybravelyandmakedecisions.Shefightsactivelyforherrespectwhilesheisunconfidentinhermind.SothetragedyofBlancheliesinthecomplicatedexperiencesunderhercomplicatedcharacter.TheCauseofSocietyBlancheisalsotheresultofonevilsystem—thefeudalismoftheoldSouthorthevictimofanother—thecapitalismoftherejuvenatedunion.Shelivesinanageduringwhichthetraditionalmoralpowerisstrong.TheethicsofPuritanismshowautocracyineachaspectoflife,whichexertdeepeffectonBlancheinherlaterlife.Asthedeclineoftheplantationeconomy,Blanchestilltriestoadjusttothenewbutcruelcapitalistsocietyusingheraristocraticay.Peopleshownosympathyforherexperiences,butregardherasadifferentculturalspecies.Shewantsthecarefulnessofothers,onlyfallingintoloneliness。shewantsgentlemen,onlybeingcheatedbythereality.Sheentrustshopestohercharmandmannerstorealizeheraims.However,thesocietydoesn’tgiveherchances,onlychangingher,controllingher,andfinallydestroyingher.TheCivilWarandtheSouthernGentlewomenTheVictimoftheDecliningSoutherncultureSoutherngentlewomenaretheproductofacertainhistoricalsituation.Plantationsystemisthebasisonwhichtheyrelyforexistence.TheethicsofPuritanism,especiallyitsasceticism,imprisonthethoughtoftheSoutherngentlewomen.Theplantationownersaretherulersofthem.Inordertomaintainanoutwardshow,theydesigntheSouthernwomentolooklikedecent,versatilesouthgentlewomen.TheseSouthernwomenarewillingtobecomethesymbolofvirginityandmodelinordertodependontheSoutherngentlemenforsurvival.TheyhavetobeobedientandconcealtheirtruefeelingsbyobeyingtheactingethicsintheoldSouth.TheSoutherngentlewomenhavegiventheirfatetothemen.Tosomeextent,thisalsosatisfiestheirvanity.However,thecivilwardestroystheSouthplantationsystem,aswellasculturesandvalues.TheseSoutherngentlewomenarethrownintoastrangeenvironment.AsthedecliningoftheoldSouth,thebeautifuldayshaspassedforever.Itishardforthemtoforgetthewayoflifeundertheplantationsystemandevengetridofhypocriticalandinhumanethics.Thetraditionofsocietycausestheirincapabilityinsurvival.Unavoidably,theyhavebecomevictimsofthedecliningSouthernculture.Withtheprosperityofcapitalisteconomy,theindustrialculturehaseruptedtheethicsandromanceofSouthernculturegreatly.PeopleinSouthareconfrontedwithdifficultchoice.TheSoutherngentlewomenwhoarebroughtupintheSouthernculturemakedifferentchoices.Someacceptthemoderncultureandiscategorizedbyit。somecan’tacceptthecruelandindifferentrealityandhavetobeimmersedinresplendenceoftheoldSouthernculture.Theytrytousetheirimaginationoftheirpasttoknowthesocietyandmakethemselvesknowninthesociety.Intheiropinion,allpastthingsinremembranceofthegreatSoutherncultureisbeautiful.However,duringtheirfightingagainstthenewenvironment,theyalwayslosethemselvesandendintragedy.TheExploreroftheFutureduringaGreatChangeAsisknownbyall,thecivilwarexertsaprofoundandabsoluteinfluencetoallaspectsoftheSouth.Duringagreatchange,nothingiscertain,includingfuture.Southerngentlewomenwithlittlepower,fallintodilemma.Whatshouldtheydo,abandonthetraditionormaintainthetradition?Theeducationtheyreceiveandthevaluesrootedintheirmindsarecontradictorytothereality.Iftheymaintaintheirtradition,theyarelikelytolostthemselves.However,iftheychangethemselvesandadjusttothereality,itisimmoralandamisstotheirvalues.Theonlythingtheycandoisnothingbuttoexplore.Theyshapethemselvesintheharshreality,theyseektheirfutureindilemma.Inaword,thecivilwarmakesitmoredifficulttohandle