Contents

Acknowledgments

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to Edward Morgan Forster-1

1.2 Introduction to A Room with a View-1

1.3 Research Status of A Room with a View-2

1.4 Thesis Structure-3

Chapter Two Initiation Novel-4

2.1 Definition and Origin of Initiation Novel-4

2.2 Features of Initiation Novel-4

Chapter Three Lucy’s Initiation Process-6

3.1 Obedience-6

3.2 Suspicion-6

3.3 Struggle-7

3.4 Awakening-7

3.5 Maturity-8

Chapter Four Reasons for Lucy’s Growth-10

4.1 Family Background-10

4.2 Experience in Italy-10

4.3 Guides-10

4.3.1 Positive Guides-11

4.3.2 Negative Guides-11

Chapter Five Conclusion-13

References-14

Abstract

Edward Morgan Forster is a famous novelist in England in the early twentieth century. His works include six novels, and some critical articles. Almost all of his novels reflect the corruption of the middle and upper classes in England. In each of the works, the protagonists try to cast off the shackles of the society to obtain freedom. A Room with a View is one of Forster’s novels, describing a British girl who meets with a young man in Italy and falls in love with him. She dares not to express her feelings under the oppression of the patriarchal society, but she eventually breaks off the barriers and the arranged marriage, heading for freedom and happiness.

Many experts and scholars at home and abroad have studied the novel from some aspects, such as theme, humanism and narrative techniques, but few people have studied the novel from the perspective of the theme of female growth. On the basis of previous studies, this thesis will use the theory of the initiation novel to analyze Lucy’s growth process from obedience to suspicious, to struggle, to awakening, finally to having the courage to pursue freedom and happiness, and to further explore the social causes for making female submissive and depressed by analyzing Lucy’s family background, social status, her trip to Italy and the guides in her growth process, etc.

Keywords:  A Room with a View; initiation novel; female growth