The “Gender” Siege: Female Images in Qian Zhongshu’s Novel “Fortress Besieged”

Abstract

“Fortress Besieged” by Qian Zhongshu is known as the “New Scholar” in the history of modern literature. The “Scholar World” depicted by Qian Zhongshu is a shining pearl in the literary world. The description of female images is even more intriguing and impressive. It presents the light ahead of female consciousness and the deep-rooted traces of male consciousness. This collision between the old and the new gives this work unique literary and time value. Starting from the typical female images in “Fortress Besieged,” combining the original text and creative background, this paper explores the sparks between new ideas and deep-rooted patriarchal consciousness, which expands the analysis path of the male perspective for analyzing the shaping of female roles. Considering the female situation in modern society, it is concluded that the profundity of novel ideas has a positive role and significance for today’s women to strive for social status and discourse power.