Abstract: The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, a famous Australian writer, unfolds three generations of the females’ love experience and fate in the Cleary family. The thesis focuses on the analysis of three female characters, trying to discover their pursuit for love, struggle against fates and their vision of the meaning of life.

First in this thesis is included a brief introduction to the writer. Afterwards it analyses the symbolism of the thorn birds. Next it makes a deep analysis of the three female characters and explores the difficulties on their ways to love and happiness. Based on their personal living conditions, the personalities, values and emotional experience, we better comprehend the original work as well as the four vivid characters by combining two images −“the thorn” and “birds” with the four female characters. Finally a conclusion is drawn that women can gain happiness and realize self-value, as long as they are brave enough to pursue love and challenge the destinies. In addition, the true love and the beauty should be attained with unimaginable cost.

Key Words: the thorn birds; the female characters; images; struggle; fate

摘要：澳大利亚著名作家考琳·麦卡洛的家世小说《荆棘鸟》，展现了克里利家族三代女性的命运遭际。本文对小说中的三位女性人物进行分析，探究她们不懈地追求各自的爱情和对命运的抗争，以及对人生的洞察与思考。

      论文先对小说作者作了简要介绍，然后分析了荆棘鸟的象征意义,再对三位女性人物进行了深入的分析，探讨她们寻求自我幸福与爱情的过程。以四位女性的性格特征、生活经历、情感体验以及价值观为研究基础，将“荆棘”和“鸟”这两个意向与四位女性形象相结合，以更好地理解原著及其中的女性形象。最后，通过分析可以得出结论:女性具只有勇于追求爱,挑战命运,坚持不懈,如“荆棘鸟”般，才能获得幸福,实现自我价值，同时,真正的爱和一切美好的东西需要以难以想象的代价去换取。

关键词：荆棘鸟；女性形象；意向；斗争；命运