-5-ChapterOneIntroduction1.1IntroductionoftheAuthorColleenMcCulloughisaversatilewriter.Onceaphysician,shewasapatronofseveralneuroscienceinstitutesandfoundations,andalsoservedasaconsultantinclinicalneurophysiologyattheRoyalSydneyNorthShoreHospital.Butshewasnotwillingtobeadoctorandresearchallherlife.Shelovedwritingsinceshewasachild,soshebegantotrywriting.Herfirstnovelisthe1974bookTim,whichisalsoaromancenovel.In1977,McCullough’sTheThornBirdswaspublished.McCullough’sAustralianfamilynovelspansfrom1915to1969.Thefamilylegendaboutdreams,struggles,deephopesandforbiddenlovehasattractedgenerationsofreadersandisknownasAustralia’sGonewiththeWind.Besidesnovels,shewrotebiographies,essaysoressaysandevenmusicals.Andforthenovelitself,sheisnotlimitedtoonegenre.McCullough’screativefieldsareextensiveandaccomplished,perhapsthankstohertirelessspiritofexplorationandherexperience.Sheisneversatisfied,andconstantlyexploresnewfieldsandnewliterarystylesofthecity.Atthesametime,shehasaveryrigorousattitude.Sheconductsin-depthresearchonthethemeofeachworkandoftenchangesitsdrafts.1.2IntroductionoftheNovelTheThornBirdsisanovelbycontemporaryAustralianwriterCineMcCullough.ThenovelfollowsthelovedisputebetweentheheroineMeggieandFatherRalph,describingthestoryofthreegenerationsoftheClearyfamilyformorethanhalfacentury.Ralphyearnsforthepowerofthechurch,butfellinlovewiththebeautifulgirloftheClearyfamily.Forthepursuitofhisgod,heabandonsthesecularlove,buttheheartisextremelycontradictoryandpain.Withthisasthecenter,thejoysandsorrowsofmorethantenmembersoftheClearyfamilyarealsoshown.Adescriptionofthethornbirdinthenovelgoessomethinglikethis.Thebirdwiththethorninitsbreast,itfollowsanimmutablelaw;itisdrivenbyitknowsnotwhattoimpaleitself,anddiesinging.Attheveryinstantthethornentersthereisnoawarenessinitofthedyingtocome;itsimplysingsandsingsuntilthereisnotthelifelefttoutteranothernote.Butwhenweputthethornsinourbreasts.Weunderstand.Andstillwedoit.ChapterTwoIntroductionoftheFemaleConsciousness2.1DefinitionoftheFemaleConsciousnessFemaleconsciousnessreferstothewomenasthemainbodyintheobjectiveworld,roleandvalueofconsciousness,specifically,referstothewomencanconsciouslyconsciousnessandfulfilltheirhistoricalmission,socialresponsibility,lifeobligations,andclearlyknowthecharacteristicsoftheirown,andinauniquewaytoparticipateinsociallife,affirmationandrealizetheirsocialvalueandlifeneeds.Femaleconsciousnessisusuallyunderstoodasarecognitionthatrefusestorecognizethestateofgenderinequalityisinevitableandunchangeable,andtheawakeningoffemaleconsciousnessisthatwomenhaveawayofthinkingthatopposeswomenandmen,andfemininecharacteristicsandmasculinecharacteristics.Femaleconsciousnessistheproductoffemaleselfawakening,iswomenthroughthestudyofself-consciousness,iswomenonthepremiseoftheirgenderidentity,positioningitselfasanaturalpersonwithindependentpersonality,shewillmanandwoman,embodiesthegenderandbeyondthesexualvaluepursuit.Femaleconsciousnessontheonehand,stemsfromwomenuniquephysiologicalandpsychologicalmechanism,theexperienceandfeeltheexternalworldhasitsownuniquewayandAngle,isactuallyakindofgenderconsciousness,morebelongtothecategoryofnaturalattributes:ontheotherhand,andwiththedevelopmentofhumansociety,differentsocialhistorystagedeterminesthedevelopmentoffemaleconsciousnessofdifferentlevelsandhistoricalcontent.Femaleconsciousnesshasbeeninconstantchange.Thecategoryoffemaleconsciousnessthinkingincludesnaturalenvironment,lifeexistence,love,marriage,socialdevelopmentandmanyotherfields.Theawakeningoffemaleconsciousnessisthehistoricalnecessityofhumanbeingsfromtheeraofignorancetomodernsociety.ThefemaleconsciousnessinthenovelTheThornbirdshastheinseparablecharacteristicswithTheTimes,andhasacertainera.Thenovelspanstwoworldwarsandeconomicdepressions,andinthisbroadhistoricalcontext,theprotagoniststaketurns.Atthattime,women’sideologywasnotemancipatedenough,andwomencouldnotbeasfreeasmen.Thethreewomeninthenovelaretryingtobreakthroughtheshacklesintheirownway,whichistheprogressoftheprotagonist,butalsotheprogressofallwomen.Theauthor’sthinkingonfeminismshowstheindependentfemalethought.However,itcanbeseenbetweenthelinesthattheauthor’sattitudetowardsfeminismisverycalm,andhedoesnotblindlybelittlemenorpraisewomen.Throughthethreegenerations,sheshowspeoplethatwomenpaymoreandmoreattentiontopersonalityindependenceandequalitybetweenmenandwomen.InCullough’swriting,threelifelikewomendaretousetheirlivestocarefortheirloveandideals,toreleasetheirenergy,althoughliveawonderfullifebutstillpayaheavyprice.Theypassonthespiritofthethornbirdofneveryieldingandwithouthesitationfromgenerationtogeneration,breakthroughtheshacklesfromthegerminationofself-consciousnesstotheawakeningofself-consciousness,completelyliberatethemselves,andachievethematurityofself-consciousness.Theauthorusesthevicissitudesandemotionalexperiencesofthreegenerationsofwomentotellus:beautifulthingsandtrueloveneedtobeexchangedatunimaginablecosts,justlikethethornbirdthatplungethornsintothechestandstillsing.ButMcCalloughfocusesnotonlyontherootsofwomen’stragicfateinapatriarchalsociety,butontheinterpretationofherintrospectionandawakeningofself-awareness.Thesethreebravethornbirdswiththeirmostbeautifulvoiceforthereaderssangthreelovesongs,sothatwecanfeelthatinthatera,womenintheroadofequalrightsandfreedomofbodyandmindandhappinessisfullofthorns.2.2RepresentationoftheFemaleConsciousnessThepowerfulimpactofwesternfeministliteraturehasinspiredthealwayssleepyfemalegendermeaning.Feministicwomenarethebestwaytochallengeapatriarchalsocietythatbindsthem.Theirwritingisdeepinthebottomofthefemalespirit.Thespiritualliberationandfreedomenablethemtodeconstructmen’srecognitionandcoverofwomeninamorebasicsense,andthebrillianceofhumannaturereflectedintheirworkscoldlyhurtsthepatriarchalsociety.Femaleconsciousnessismanifestedintheawakeningofwomen’sself-consciousness,whichgraduallysubvertsthemale-centeredideologyandconstructsanewvoiceforwomen.Womenbegintoresistthepatriarchy,breakfree,andpursueindependenceandequality.Atthesametime,womenareactivelyseekingmutualunderstandingandharmoniouscoexistencebetweenthesexes.Basedonloveandunderstanding,thetwosexeswillliveinharmony,thusmakingtheworldabetterplace,andhumanbeingswillalsogainthetruemeaningofsurvival.Somefeministpioneersbegantorebelinvariousformstofightformorerightsforthemselves.Inashortperiodoftime,thefeministmovementdevelopedrapidlyandbroughtastrongimpacttothesocialstructureatthattime.Theawakeningoffemaleconsciousnessisaprocessofcontinuousexplorationanddevelopment.Womendevelopfromtheinitialsilenceandobediencetothesecularfreedom,thendeveloptothepursuitofrealequalityandindependence.Theyhaveidealsandindependentpersonality,paymoreattentiontotheirownlife,donothaveillusionsaboutmen.Thisprocessisdifficultandlong,womenarealsotryingavarietyofmethods,whetheritisideologyorbehavior,womenareconstantlyworkinghard.ChapterThreeTheEmbodimentofFemaleConsciousnessofThreeWomen3.1ObedienceandSilenceofFionaFionaisMeggie’smother,thefirstgenerationofthethornbird,withapainfullife.Herstoryissmallthroughoutthenovel,butasreaders,wecanstillfeelheruniqueinsightintoloveinsomewords.Fionawasathornbird,andPagihanwasherlongestandmostacutethorn.Fiona'slovewithPagihanwasshortandpainful,andshepayedalifetimepriceforit.Herlifeisundoubtedlysad,andherdedicationtoPagihanmakesherignoredPaddy.Hehadalwaysnurturedherandrespectedher.AfterPaddydieddidsherealizedthatthemisplacedlovecametoolate.Fromherlifeexperience,weunderstandthatwomendonotneedtofollowtherules,andthereisnothingwrongwithpursuingtruelove.Atthistime,Fiona’sfemaleconsciousnesswasnotfullyawakened,soshewasmoreobedientandsilent.3.1.1ExpressionofObedienceThestoryofFionawasnotdescribedindetailthroughoutthenovel.WecanlearnfromafewwordsthatFionawasborninthearistocracyofthattime,andshecouldhavehadarichandpeacefullifeuntilshefeltinlovewiththepersonsheshouldnotlove,namelyPagihan.Pagihanwasamarriedman,andhewasapowerfulpolitician.Fiona’sidentitydoomedherlovewithPagihanwillnothaveagoodresult,butshestillfeltinlovewithPagihan,andgavebirthtoPagihan’schildFrank.AndFiona’sfamilycouldnotacceptthescandalthatshefeltinlovewithapoliticianandunmarriedpregnancy.Fionaoutofthehouse,shecouldonlymarrythefamilymaidPaddy,becameapoorhousewife.PaddylovedFionaverymuchandhewasagoodhusband.ButeventhoughPaddytreatedFionasincerely,Fionastillhadnoloveforhim.FionalovedonlyPagihanallherlife,andshewasbetterforPagihan’ssonFrankthanforalltheotherchildren.Fionalostlovehadnoenergy,heartdiedgeneralcalm.Shewasgentleandpeaceful,butsherefusedtosayanotherwordinherdailylife.Shetriedtobeahousewife,tookcareofthechildren,obeyedherhusband,butdidnotfeelherenthusiasmandhappiness.Shemissedasincerelovebecauseofherobedience.Shechosetobeahousewifebecauseofherobedience.Shehadmanychildrenbecauseofherobedience.3.1.2ExpressionofSilenceFionawasverycoldtoherchildren,andshewasonlyverykindtoFrank,becausehewasthesonofPagihanandtheonlychildofherlove.Unfortunately,herfavoritesonandherhusbandwerealwaysinconflict.PagihanwasdissatisfiedthatFrankwastheoldestbutunemployed,andFrankalsohatedPagihan,PagihanletalreadyinappropriatelyFionapregnantmanytimes,whichcausedFrankgreatdissatisfaction.Hefeltsorryforhispregnantmother,andthoughtthatPagihanshouldnotlethergetpregnantagain.PagihanalwaysletFrankdosomething,Frankwasunbearable,andPagihanbrookoutconflict.PagihanalsosaidthetruthaboutFrank’sorigin,Frankknewofhisoriginandlefthome,andfinallyanaccidentcompletelydies.UntilPaddydied,shefinallyunderstoodthatshedidnothaveanyfeelingsforPaddy,Paddylovedherandrespectedher,shehadfeelingsforhimunderPaddy’scare,onlyPaddydiedsheunderstood.Butsheunderstoodtoolate,alsocanonlylive,couldnotdoreallyletgoofit.LookingbackonFiona’ssadlife,mostofthetimewaspainful,andperhapsthetimewithPagihanwasherreallyhappymoment.AfterbeingseparatedfromPagihan,shestilltriedtolive,buttherewasnolightinhereyes,herbodylivedintheworld,andherheartwasalreadydead.Butsheneverregret,didnotregretherfleetinglove,shealwaysloveonlyPagihan.Sheunderstoodthatherlovewasnotallowedbythefamily,shecouldhavegivenupPagihanandlove,sheknewwhatpriceshewouldpayforlove,butshestillfollowtheheart,seekingtrueloveandhappiness,evenifloveandhappinessareshort.Similarly,shehadpaidtheprice,andshewasinpainallherlife.Shedidnotrealizeherloveforherhusbandatfirst.ShethoughtsheonlylovedPagihan,andherlovewasonlybelongingtoPagihan.UntilafterPaddydied,sheseemedtounderstandthatshealsohaddeepfeelingsforPaddy,butitwastoolate.Shewassosilent.Shefailedtorealizeherloveforherhusbandearlier.Shesaid,IrealizedhowmuchIlovePaddy.Shewasparanoidandpainful.Inhermiserablelife,Shemissedasincerelovebecauseofhersilence.3.2PassionandPersistenceofMeggieMeggieisthemaincharacterinthenovel,andherlovewithRalphisthefocusofthenovel.HerlovecomparedwithFiona,moretortuousandmoremoving.WecanalsofeelthedifferentfemaleconsciousnessbetweenMeggieandFionafromtheauthor’sextensivedescription.Asanordinarywoman,Meggielivedinapatriarchalsocietyandfoughtagainstpatriarchalism.Shewastenacious,butherpersistentpursuitoflovealsolostherbelovedpersonandherfavoriteson.FromMeggie’sexperience,wecanfurtherunderstandtheprocessofordinarywomeninthepatriarchalsociety,whoexperiencedifficultgrowthandstrugglewiththeirfate,andfinallytransformintoastrongandrebelliousmaturewoman.Atthistime,Meggie’sfemaleconsciousnessisawakening,sosheispassionateandpersistentpursuitoflove.3.2.1ExpressionofPassionMeggie,thedaughterofFionaandPagihan,wasborninawealthyfamilyandwasbulliedduringherschoolyears.Whenthefamilywasintrouble,Meggie’saunt,Pagihan’ssister,MarywrotetoPagihantoaskthefamilytoinheritedtheinheritance.Afterabumpyride,theMeggiefamilyembarkedontheAustralianmainland.ItwasalsothenthatMeggiemetherbelovedfatherRalph.Atthetime,Meggiewasonly9yearsold,andRalphwasalready29yearsold,buttheagegapdidnotpreventthemfromattractingeachother.Becauseofhernaturalbeauty,MeggiesoonattractedtheattentionofRalph.Ralphlikedthelittlegirlverymuch,soshewasverykindtoher,andMeggiealsoreliedontheman.Asheragegraduallyincreased,herrelationshipwithRalphgraduallydeepened,andfinallytheyfellinlove.WhenMeggiewas17,Meggie’sauntMarydied.ShegaveRalphaletterbeforeherdeathbed,andRalphknewthatMarywasricherthanexpected.Marywrotethatshehadahugeinheritance,whichshehadplannedtoleavetotheMeggiefamily,butshechangedhermindandfinallydecidedtogiveherhugefortunetotheCatholicChurch,whichwouldbemanagedbyRalphforever.Ralphwasalsocaughtinadilemma.HedidnotknowwhethertopublishMary’swill.Ifheannouncedthewill,theMeggiewouldhaveachancetogettheestate,buthewouldnevergetapromotionagain.Ifhedidnotdisclosethelegacy,hecouldbepromoted,buttheMeggiefamilywouldlosethisgreatfortuneforever.Ralphhesitatedforalongtime,decidedtopublishthewillandleftMeggiewiththewealth.MeggieandRalph’sidentityandagegapmakethemunabletogetmarriedeveniftheyfellinlove.Atthispoint,amanappeared,heisLuke.Luke’sappearancewaslikeRalph,shethoughtshefellinlovewithLuke.Butshedidnotlovehim,butherheartwasconfusedbyhisappearance.Thereissuchadescriptioninthenovel.Whatstrangecreaturesmenwere,togoatthisasifitwasthemostpleasurablethingintheworld.Itwasdisgusting,amockeryoflove.Haditnotbeenforherhopethatitwouldculminateinababy,Meggiewouldhaverefusedflatlytohaveanythingmoretodowithit.SoshemarriedLukejustbecauseofhisappearance.ButLukedidnotloveMeggie,heonlywantedmoney,soaftermarriage,LukewasnotgoodtoMeggie,noteventohaveherfirstchild,Lukerefusedtovisither.Heonlyusesherasatooltoventhissexualdesire,heisveryrudetoherandverydetailedinthenovel.MarriagelifewasnothappyMeggiegraduallypain,andatthistimeRalphreturnedtoherside,RalphlovedMeggieverymuch,afterleavingRalphalsooftenmissMeggie,hefinallycouldnotcontrolhisfeelings,cametoMeggieside,accompanyMeggiespentaveryhappytime.3.2.2ExpressionofPersistenceWhenRalphwastotakeamoreimportantposition,heleftMeggieagain.HeexpressedhisloveforMeggie.Hepulledherintohisarmsandheldher,strokingherbrighthair.Meggie,IwishwithallmyheartIcouldmarryyou,neverbeapartfromyouagain.Idon’twanttoleaveyouAndinawayI’llneverbefreeofyouagain.IwishIhadn’tcometoMatlock.Butwecan’tchangewhatweare,andperhapsit’sjustaswell.IknowthingsaboutmyselfIwouldneverhaveknownorfacedifIhadn’tcome.It’sbettertocontendwiththeknownthantheunknown.Iloveyou.Ialwayshave,andIalwayswill.Rememberit.WhenheleftMeggiewasnowpregnantwithhischild,soshedecidedtoleaveLukeandreturnedtohermothertolivewithher,gavebirthtoRalph’schild,namedDane.WhenRalphmeetMeggieagain,hethoughtthatMeggiewasbackwithLukeandborehimagain,andMeggiealsodecidednottotellRalphthatDaneishischild.ButwhenDanegrewup,heinsistedonbeingapriest.Afterhesitating,MeggiedecidedtosendDanetoRalphandaskhimtotakecareofhim.RalphenjoyedbeingalongwithDane,whichmadeMeggiehappy.Unfortunately,thegoodtimesdidnotlastlong,Danediedunexpectedly,MeggieaskedRalphtousetherighttobringDane’sbodyback,Ralphwantedtorefuse,noturgent,buttoldRalphDanewashischild.Ralphknewofthetruth,andeventuallyrecoveredDane’sbody,butitdidnothelp,andheeventuallydiedinregret.PoorMeggiesuccessivelylostherchildandlover,butMeggiewasalsolucky,sheandRalphhaveneverbeenseparatedinemotion.Throughoutthenovel,Meggiewasjustasattachedtoloveashismother.EvenbetweenhimandRalph,shenevercared.ShewasapassionateandpersistentloveforRalph.Meggiewasalsoathornbird,andRalphwashissharpestandsharpestthorn.Becauseofsecularreasons,shecanneverbewithRalph.Butshewasalsolucky,Ralphhasalwayslovedherverymuch,sheandRalphalsospentaveryhappytime.Shewasalsobraveinthepursuitoflove,atthesametime,shewasalsobravetorejecttheunhappymarriage,timelystoptheloss,leavethewrongperson.Shetastedthehappinessoflove,butalsotastedthepainofmissingher,butshenevergaveupherloveforRalph.Inthefaceofchildrenandloverswereleavingthemselves,shewasstillstrong,calmfaceeverything.Fromherlife,wecanseethatherpersistentandpassionatetolove.3.3FreedomandIndependenceofJustinJustineisthedaughterofMeggie,sheisdifferentfromhermotherandgrandmother,shehasnoobsessionwithlove,andhasitsownuniqueviewsonlove,obviously,sheisanalternativethornbird.FearlessindependenceandrebellionwerethedistinctivecharacteristicsofJustinecharacter,finallystandingoppositeanothermanoppositetheoath,shesuddenlywokeupwhatislove,whatwasaffection.ExaminationandreflectionwerethesignsofJustine’sself-transcendence.Throughthedescriptionofherimage,theimageofathornbirdthatpursuesindependence.Sheisaself-securerwhenfacingtherestrictionandoppressionfromthesociety.Thus,sheistheonlyonewhofinallygainsthehappiness.Atthistime,herfemaleconsciousnesshasbeenawakened,sosheisdifferentfromhermotherandgrandmother.Shewillnotindulgeinlove,buthasherownidealsandbecomemorefreeandindependent.3.3.1ExpressionofFreedomJustinewasthethirdgenerationoftheClearyfamily,whowasbornandraisedinthesecondwaveofthefeministmovement.Affectedbythis,Justinehadadistinctpersonalityandhadbeentryingtobecomethemasterofherownlife.Fromthemomentshewasbirth,shewasandifferentthornbird.Shedidnotfollowhergrandmotherormother,andshedidnotevenintendtomarry,contemptwhenMeggieaskedherifshewantedtomarry.WhenhermotherMeggieaskedherifshewantedtomarry,sherejectedhermotherbecauseshebelievedshecouldnothumblybegforarelationshipforsomeonewhowasinferiorbutarrogant.Butshewasdefinitelynotgoingtoliveaabstinencelife,shetreatedfeelingsmorestronglythanhermotherandgrandmother,andshewasnotgoingtogiveuplove.Justinewasathornbird,butherthelongestandmostpointedthornisnotalover,butherbrotherDane.BecauseshewasnotthechildthatMeggieexpected,soshewasneglectedbyMeggieafterherlife,soJustineshowedtheindependenceandpridedifferentfromordinarygirls.Shenevergotclosetoanyone,evenhermother,untiltheappearanceofheryoungerbrotherDane.Perhapsitwasadistortionoffatheraffection,orarebellionagainsthermother,andsheshowedastrongpossessivenessandsenseofresponsibilityinDane,asifDaneonlybelongedtoher,andsheandDaneevenasadulthood.Danewasthemostimportantmaleinherlife,fadingfromanymaleinhereyes.Itwasanimportantmanifestationofherrebelliouscharacter,andshedespisedworldlylove,andDanewasallabouther.3.3.2ExpressionofIndependenceJustinerepresentedtheindependentwomenofthenewera.Thesadlovebetweenhermotherandgrandmothermadeheradvocatefreedomandindependencefromchildhood,whileRena’scompanyandprotectionerodedherwalledbitbybit.Intheend,Rena’spromise,willnotletJustinechangethepresentappearance,intoanotherkind.Fortunately,JustinelatermeetherloverRena,withhishelpsherealizedtheimportanceofahappymarriageandaharmoniousrelationshipwithmen.JustinemarriedRena,themarriagedidnothinderherfreedomandindependence,shecouldcontinueheractingcareer.AmongthethreegenerationsofwomenintheClearyfamily,Justinewastheonlypersonwhofinallygetshappiness,andtherealizationofharmonybetweenthetwosexfinallyprovestherealgrowthofwomen.Shefullyrespectedtheirwishestopursuethelifeyouwant,didnotwanttowastetheirtimeonmenandchildren,shedecidedtomakeallherpassionweretothecareer.Sothatinordertogetforactinglifeexperience,shelosthervirginity,inherviewthesethingsbetweenmenandwomenwasnotneedfeelings,thiswastobeagoodactorshouldhave.Thisfullyshowedherforherownpersonalityandspiritualindependence,independentself-improvement,notattachedtoanyone’sattitude.ChapterFourEnlightenmentontheContemporaryWomen4.1EnlightenmentofThreeWomenYoucanseetheprototypeofFionafemaleconsciousness.TheFionafemaleconsciousnessisveryvagueandincomplete,however,inadditiontomarriageobedienceandsilence,herlimitedfemaleconsciousnessinthefateofyield,surrendertoimposesocialnormsonwomen,thepatriarchaloppressionsheneverresist,marriagecanbeseenfromtheexperienceofFionashedidhadafemaleconsciousness,oncebravelypursuedtheirtruelove,tryingtodominatetheirowndestiny.Intheearlydays,Meggie’sself-consciousnesshasnotbeenawakened,notrealizingthatasanindependentperson,shealsohastherighttopursuehappiness.WhenMeggieseesLuke’sselfishness,herunhappymarriagewithLukeawakensherself-consciousness,andshedecidestochangeherlife.RalphleftagainafterthedaughterJustinewasborn.Meggieisnolongerawomantrappedbyfate,butanindependentwomanwithastrongwillandfightingspirit.FromthesewecanseethatMeggie’ssenseofself-awarenessasanindependentpersonhasawakened,andshehasfinallybeguntomasterherowndestiny,andinthisway,sheisfightingagainstGodandtheunfairfate.Meggie’stransformationalsoshowsthatAustralianwomenbecamemorecourageousandmaturewiththedevelopmentofthefeministmovementandassocietyprogressed.Asanordinarywoman,Meggiecannotgetridofthesocialshackles,althoughwomenhaveachievedsomesuccess,butthereisstillalongwaytogo.4.2EnlightenmentoftheNovelInthenovel,italsodescribesthatalthoughJustinesurpassedherprevioustwogenerationsofwomen,theirunfortunateexperiencestillleftastrongshadowinthedepthsofherheart,whichmadeheravant-gardethoughtsandwordsanddeedshavethepainbeyondtheduelimit,suchasrefusingRaynor’sproposalalmostmadeherlosealifetimeofhappiness.Inordertomaketheworkhaveaperfectending,thewriterarrangedforLanetowaitpatiently,andhelpedhertoremovetheshadowofpsychology,andfinallyJustinegotahappylove.Infact,everyoneneedstohavetheirownsoulhomeandpursuegoals.However,inreallife,noteveryonecantreattherealityrationally,andsomepeoplearealwaystimidinfrontofthethingstheypursue.Alldeepexperiencesofhappinessmustbebasedonpainandtenacity,andpainisthesourceofliterarycreation.Thenovelalsorevealsthefateofthethreegenerationsofheroinesthroughthefableofthethornbird.Thethornbirdinthefabletakesthelongestandthegoalinlife,andsingsthepraisesoflifewhilesufferingextremepain,whichrepresentstheeternalpursuitinthespiritualfieldthroughthepriceoflife.Similarly,thefemalecharactersinthenovelgoforwardbravelyinthefaceofreality,anddaretofacethepainandthefateoftheenvironment.Afterexperiencingthelowpointofmylife,Itriedtoimprovemyself,evenifIpaidthecostofmylife,Imovedforwardwithouthesitation,andfinallygottherealhappinessandhappiness.InTheThornBirds,itisintegratedintotheauthor’sownstrongfemaleconsciousness,anddeconstructsthepatriarchalsocietythroughthefemaleperspective.Inmanywesternliteraryworks,thereisastrongsenseoffemaleconsciousness.Theseworksarealmostcompletedbyfemalewriters,whichfullyreflectstheirrequirementsforself-existenceandshowsastrongsenseoffemaleconsciousness.Theyneedindependence,respect,andfreedom.Withthedevelopmentofthesociety,thesituationofwomenhasbeencontinuouslyimproved.However,theseadvancesonlyrepresentthebeginning,andtheroadtowomen’sliberationislong,whichnotonlyreferstothelevelofsocialsystem,butalsoreferstothelevelofculturalpsychology.Contemporarywomenshouldbebravetopursuebeautifulandsincerefeelings,orpursueanindependentlife,realizetheirownlifevalue,andcompletethetranscendenceoftheirowndestinyandthesublimationofthemeaningoflife.Contemporarywomenshouldactivelyfightagainstthefate,facethedifficultiesinlifebravely,andrejectallinequality.ChapterFiveConclusionTheThornBirdsisanovelconcernedwithl