"Crazy Women" in Chinese and Foreign Literature: A Comparison of Ophelia in Hamlet and Fanyi in Thunderstorm

Abstract

Ophelia in Hamlet and Fanyi in Thunderstorm are both female characters in literary works that have developed into being seen as "crazy" by others in the later stages. However, one work was created in Europe from the 16th to the 17th century, and the other in China from the 20th century. How can the similarities between these two female characters reflect the marginalization commonality of women in two different times and societies? What significance can the differences between these two roles inspire for the development of contemporary feminism? Driven by these objectives, this paper delves into two masterpieces in the literary treasure trove - Shakespeare's classic tragedy Hamlet and Cao Yu's modern play Thunderstorm and conducts a comparative study of gender roles that crosses time and space through a delicate analysis of their personalities and in-depth exploration of their experiences. At the level of "otherness", both female roles have the characteristic of lacking discourse power. However, from the perspective of her native personality, Ophelia is weaker and more passive, while Fanyi tends to be stronger and more active. Within different destinies, the two characters embarked on vastly different life trajectories. The two stories are like two prisms, reflecting the spectrum of women's survival status in the changing times. From obedience to struggle, the two characters outline an unfinished chapter about the awakening of feminism consciousness.