Women's Struggle under the Haze of Patriarchy: An Analysis of the Female Image in The Mayor of Casterbridge

The Mayor of Casterbridge is one of the important masterpieces of British writer Thomas Hardy, and the female images portrayed in the novel profoundly reveal the oppression and bondage of the patriarchal system on women in the 19th century British society. By analysing the images of three women in the novel, Elizabeth Jane, Susan and Lucita, this paper explores their existential dilemma and spirit of resistance under the patriarchal system. The paper demonstrates Hardy's deep insight into women's destiny and the feminist consciousness embedded in his works; in portraying these female figures, Hardy not only reveals the oppression of women by the patriarchal society, but also expresses the affirmation of women's self-awakening and the spirit of resistance.