Abstract: Maupassant was born in the 19th century, at that time, male chauvinism was still rife. Women were in low social status and literal works paid little attention to their sufferings. However, Maupassant's novels were all critical works took women as themes. What he criticized was the persecution that male chauvinism did to women. There is no doubt that Maupassant’s advanced idea is worth commending. As a great critical realist writer, most of his books showed his praise and sympathy towards women, especially in UNE VIE. In this book, Maupassant satirized and criticized male chauvinism and eulogized women’s fight against fate. The purpose of my paper is to analyze different female characters' fighting towards male chauvinism，and to further explore the awakening of feminist consciousness in this novel, including the awakening in sexuality, the awakening in property and the awakening in self-awareness.

Key words: male chauvinism; feminism; fight; awakening

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1.Introduction.1

1.1 Women’s Situation in the 19th Century France2

1.2 The Feminist Consciousness in UNE VIE.3

2.Female’s Tragedy Under Male’s Chauvinism.4

2.1 Male Chauvinism in Marriage. .5

2.2 Male Chauvinism in Education.6

2.3 Male Chauvinism in Group Consciousness 7

2.4 Male Chauvinism in Women’s Consciousness9

3. Awakening of Feminist Consciousness 9 

3.1 The Awakening in Sexuality.11

3.2 The Awakening in Property14

3.3 The Awakening in Self-awareness16

4. Conclusion.16

References-18