The exploration of homosexuality through the process of homosexual identity in Maurice开题报告

1. 研究目的与意义

Homosexuality phenomenon is a basic pattern of behavior in the history of mankind and all kinds of cultures. As a fringe culture, homosexuality has its unique and divorced identity from the mainstream of culture. Homosexuals, as a marginal culture group, have unique standards of behaviors and ways, whether in the highly developed industrial society or in the cruel primitive tribes, either in the 21st century today or in ancient times. Nowadays, gay communities in China are gradually in a huge number. While the national have misunderstandings and even discrimination to them due to the taboo of Chinese traditional culture and the vague of current laws and regulations. People always have an idea that homosexuality is a kind of disease, crime and social transgression. Various cultures have denounced and rejected such act, and the western societies also used to show great horror on homosexuality because of AIDS. Thus, for conservative countries like China, the survival status of homosexuals is not ideal. The public regard gays as sexual perverts and refuse to associate with them. Homosexuality is defined as the break of moral ethnic, reasons to the prevalence of diseases and bad impacts on teenagers. Meanwhile, homosexuals are afraid of exposing themselves to the public and are depressed about their unfair social treatments. Through the exploration of homosexual identity in Maurice, we could penetrate into the analysis of homosexuality, which restores the real life of homosexuals and has correct attitude towards homosexuality phenomenon. The study aims to appeal people to give more tolerance to homosexuals instead of discrimination.

2. 研究内容和预期目标

Chapter One: Background and times environment 1. Introduction of social environment of the time 2. Edward Morgan Forster#8217;s starting point of writing 2.1 Author#8217;s mentality in Maurice 2.2 The value and significance behind Maurice 3. The social status of homosexuals and homosexual literature 3.1 Survival situation of homosexuals 3.2 Stillborn works on homosexuality 3.3 Contemporaneous works and comparison 4. Sense of identity and attitudes of people to homosexuality phenomenon Chapter Two: An Analysis of Maurice by Queer Theory 1. The definition of Queer Theory 1.1 Origin of Queer Theory 1.2 Main thoughts of Queer Theory 1.3 Arguments on Queer Theory 2. Construction of Maurice#8217;s homosexual identity 2.1 The process of confusion and exploration on homosexuality during two periods in Maurice 2.2 Homosexual Dichotomy in Maurice by Queer Theory 3. Fight against the Dichotomy of Gender 3.1 Pressure of Gender Roles in the Patriarchal Society 3.2 Deconstruction of Male/Female Gender Dichotomy in Maurice by Queer Theory 4. Rebellion against the Middle Class 4.1 Limitations of the English Middle Class 4.2 Homosexual Love Across Class Barriers Chapter Three: Forster#8217;s Utopia and the Ideals of Human Beings 1. Forster#8217;s Ideal of Utopia 2. Harmony of the Universe Key problem 1. Using Queer Theory to analyse the process of homosexual identity in Maurice 2. Homosexuality is a challenge to heterosexual society 3. Construction of Forster#8217;s Utopia

3. 国内外研究现状

The western countries start to study on literature of E.M.Forster early with more comprehensive angles of research and method of analysis. From 60s to 70s, it reached a climax for critics to study, which focused on his interpersonal relations and thoughts of humanistic liberalism. At that time, with the increasing latitude of homosexuality in the society, critics emphasized on his homosexual literature like Maurice. And in 1987, the novel Maurice was adapted into a movie. While because of religious belief and force of public opinion, Maurice is comparatively less studied by the public. The most representative comment from Sydney Sina Walmsley is the thesis called #8216;Forster at the #8216;fag-end of Victorian-liberalism#8217; : Rehabilitating the imperial homosexual, which was published in 2010. It shows how Forster seeks for a road of renascence by homosexuals#8217; struggles. Owing to many factors like language, culture, and history, national scholars have less knowledge of Forster and his works. They mainly rely on translation. In 2002, RuoWen jie from Beijing Culture and Art publisher interpreted Maurice. In 80s, the study on Forster is brief and crude. Since 90s, along with reforming and opening, study has appeared more multicultural angles and deep directions including journals on homosexuality phenomenon.

4. 计划与进度安排

1. Nov 20th- Nov 26th, 2022 Subject selecting amp; Topic narrowing 2. Dec 1st #8211; Dec 31th, 2022 Opening report amp; Detailed outline 3. Jan 19th #8211;Mar 19th ,2022 First draft 4. Apr 21st - May 6th , 2022 Second amp; Third draft, literature review 5. May 7th #8211; May 10th, 2022 Final version 6. May 28th #8211; Jun 10th, 2022 thesis debate

5. 参考文献

1. Bonnie Blumenthal Finkelstein. Forster''s Women:Eternal Differences[M].New York and London:Columbia University Press,1975. 2. Claude J, Summers, E.M. Forster[M].New York: Fredrick Ungar Publishing Co.,Inc,1983. 3. E.M.Forstor. Maurice[M].北京:the Penguin Books Ltd,1972. 4. Jeremy Tambling. E.M.Forster[M].Basingstoke and London:Macmillan,1995. 5. Jieruo Wen. Maurice[M].北京:Literature and Art Press,2002. 6. John Colmer. E.M.Forster:the personal voice[M].London:Routledge,1975. 7. Judith Soberer Hers,Robert K.Martin. E.M.Forster:Centenary Revaluations[M].Basingstoke and London:Macmillan,1982 8. Lijun Fang. The exploration of liberty and harmony[M]Ludong University,2013 9. Mark Lilly. Gay Men''s Literature in the Twentieth Century[M].Houndmills:The Macmillan,1993. 10. Mary Lago. E.M.Forster:A Literary Life[M].London:Macmillan,1995. 11. Norman Page. E.M.Forster''s Pesthumouse Fiction[M].Canada:the University of Victoria,1977. 12. Paul Hammond. Love between Men in English Literature[M]. Houndmills:The Macmillan,1996. 13. Robert K.Martin, George Piggford. Queer Forster[M].Chicago and london:the University of Chicago Press,Ltd,1997.