温州师范学院外语系98英专（2）班
林晓洁
Abstract: Bertha mason, a raving maniac locked in the house, who has being depicted to be a vicious madwoman in the world literature. However, the paper will explore the image of the madwoman, Bertha Mason, from three new views: a twisted and vilified image, a sympathized image, and an oppressed image.
Key Words: Madwoman, image, twisted, vilified, sympathized, oppressed.
Introduction
When we read Jane. Eyre, we seldom consider, Bertha Mason, the image of the madwoman as crux image in the works. Generally speaking, we regard her as a foil to the heroine Jane and a prop for the writer to make up the novel's plot. While we research Bertha Mason, the artistic image afresh, seriously, we will find it's not a foil, but an influence to the whole article. Therefore, as a cipher hidden in the works, the image of the madwoman stores much information and is abound with connotations.
1.A twisted and vilified image
How is Bertha Mason's image set off by contrast? The fiction adopts self-account. The heroin Jane's image is portrayed from positive narration by her own words. However, Bertha, a maniac in the house, has no such kind of chance. Her story, her image are depicted by his husband Mr. Rochester from negative respects.
Conclusion
Madwoman plays a pivotal position in Jane Eyrn. She is an independent artistic image. Her emergence and existence have some inner necessity.
Bibliography
1.Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyrn, 2000, World Literature Press, 297-298
2.Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyrn, 1981, Foreign Teaching And Research Press,89, 219, 323
3.朱虹，1997，《禁闭在"角色"里的"疯女人"》，外国学刊，86-90
4.方平，1989，《为什么顶楼藏着一个疯女人》，《读书》，第九期，41-46
5.范文彬，1990，《也谈〈简爱〉中疯女人的艺术形象》，外国文学评论，第四期，95-96，100-101
