Perspective of Women between Two Cultures in France in the 18 Century and China in the 20 Century from the Queen’s Confession by Vitoria Holt and the Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the perspective of women from the Queen’s Confession by Vitoria Holt and the Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. The analytical method from two novels, the history, patriarchy concept and feminism concepts were implemented in this investigation. Analysis was conducted using four conceptual frame works: the women's role, women’s values, social disparity or inequality and other social factors. The results found that; 1) the concept of the women’s role, especially, the political bargaining can be seen in The Queens’s Confession, but in The Good Earth, the women were an exploitation tool for their family. In regard to being a follower; the two novels had similar ideas in the “arranged marriage”. Moreover, in the genealogy aspect, the women of the two novels had the same status in order to produce heirs for the male’s family and taking care of the family. 2) with the women’s values aspect, it was obviously found in the Queen’s Confession, especially the main characters were bullied regarding ethnic issues. But in the Chinese society under the concept of “the body under an orchestration”, can be initiated from the women, who were suffering in a value of beauty such as foot binding. 3) In the concept of the social disparity; the women tyrannical by the social class and gender, can be found with the high and low social status of the woman. Also, in the concept of the women under the social pressure; the two novels had the same believes in the patriarchal concept. It is no great surprise that the man was also a big person of the family from the past until now. Lastly, 4) In the aspect of other elements of society that effect women; mainly in the moral and customary issues, it used to be a strong social frame to control the women of the two novels such as not being able to make decisions by herself, but only permitted women to function in the family role.