Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman, one of the foremost local writers in the end of nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, focuses on New England village and rural life. Meantime, as an outstanding female writer, Mary Freeman inevitably concerns about the living condition of women at that time and in turn these observations become her writing material. She sought to demonstrate her values as a feminist: during the time which she was writing, she did this in unconventional ways. For example, she diverged from making her female characters weak and in need of help which was a common trope in literature. Through characters such as Louisa in her short story: A New England Nun, Freeman challenges contemporary ideas concerning female roles, values, and relationships in society. In A New England Nun, the protagonist Louisa Ellis lives in a quiet home in the New England countryside. She is known for her cool sense and even temperament. Her world is her home, and everything from her aprons to her china has a use and purpose in her every day rhythm. She is engaged to Joe Dagget for fourteen years while he is off to Australia to make his fortune. However, after hearing the discussion between Joe and Lily about their affection, she resolves to “keep her inheritance” and disengage herself from her long-standing engagement. In the end, she is content to spend her life as a spinster. Louisa is independent and individualistic, still she is restrained by the Puritanism and patriarchy. Her waiting for Joe in 14 years without knowing whether they love each other or not demonstrates her surrender to the traditional and conservative Puritan society. However, she relieves herself by the pursuit of beauty and devotion to exquisite everyday-life and finally refuses the marriage with Joe and continues living in a quiet life without any misery.

The image of Louisa as well as the theme on feminism has been discussed and analysed in some degree：Zhang Yuegui examines landscape as a an important element of space in A New England Nun to present a theme. In this short story, landscape divides itself into natural landscape, domestic landscape and then turns to social landscape.[15] Although she points out the two voices in Louisa, the emphasis is put on the threefold landscapes and the theme. Also there are many researches on the artistic expression techniques like the symbolism analysis in this short story.[10] However, the topic or analysis on the character itself seldom touches upon. So I am to delicately analyse on the character of Louisa, especially the two contradictory forces that direct the way to her life pursuit and living style. Compared with the former research, this paper will study the short story in a more microscopic perspective. This paper aims to explore two different voices in her inner world by focusing on the heroine Louisa, hoping to point out this two voices are calling and roaring internally whereas she follows her heart-felt voice after all. Based on this, the theme and even the practical significance can be further discussed.

2. 研究的基本内容与方案

This paper will focus on the Puritanism and patriarchy that restrains Louisa, and also on the independence and individualism lies in her nature. As to the Puritanism and patriarchy, I am going to analyse the natural environment, her living surroundings, social background, and also other main characters such as Caesar, Joe Dagget. From these information, I am to reveal the dominant ideology and how it affects Louisa’s choice. More importantly, Louisa’s attitude towards these restricts and why she can conquer them are the focuses. While Louisa’s individualism can be learned from her life style, daily routine, dressing up, utterance and many details.

[1] Freeman, Mary E.Wilkins. Mary E. Wilkins Freeman：A New England Nun and other stories [M].

[2] Harris, Susan K. Mary E. Wilkins Freeman’s “ A New England Nun” and the Dilemma of the Woman Artist[j]. Studies in American Humor, 2002(9):31.

[3] Mann, Susan Garland. A House of One’s Own: The Subversion of “True Womanhood” in Mary E. Wilkins Freeman’s Short Fiction [j]. Colby Quarterly, 1998(1):51-60.

[4] Marjorie, Pryse. An Uncloistered“New England Nun”[j]. Studies in Short Fiction, 1983: 289

[5] Pingping Yang, Wei Li. Woman in A No-Man’s World -- A Feminist Study of “ A New England Nun”[j]. Science and Technology Information,2008(17):206

[6] 毕文静. 从《新英格兰修女》看女性自我救赎之路及女性受压迫的根源[j]. 文学界，2012（04）：105-106.

[7] 金莉. 文学女性与女性文学:19世纪美国女性小说家及作品[M]. 北京外语教学与研究出版社,2004.