2。 Literature review

2。1 Previous studies on the character of Nora

The character of Nora has been studied by a large number of researchers。 Nora is regarded as a good wife and loving mother。 But she just has a happy marriage on the surface。 Pinar Süt Güngör (2015) says she lives a superficial life without a real personality and tends to rely on and obey her husband。 And the deep reason for her dilemma is that “men regulate the life of women by depriving them of inpidual choice, economic opportunity and intellectual identity” (Pinar Süt Güngör, 2015) in male-dominated society。文献综述

And Nora is considered as a woman with the spirit of rebellion。 At the end of the play, she “decides to find her real identity and begins to rebel against both society and men around her。”(Pinar Süt Güngör, 2015)。 She is a pioneer for women liberation。

However, there are some researchers who question Nora’s rebellion。 For instance, Lu Xun thinks Nora’s life after her running away from home is worrying。 “There are only two choices for her, to degenerate or to return。”(Lu Xun, 1980)                             

2。2 Previous studies on the character of Lu Shiping

As for Lu Shiping, she is also regarded as a typical good wife and loving mother。 And she“ is one of ordinary workwomen in old China who are always virtuous and industrious 。”(Wang Junbing, 2011)

She suffers from the life but she still keeps the rebellious spirit and resists in her own ways。 Zhang Huijuan (2009) thinks Lu Shiping never gives up her own personality。 During the distressful life, she always keeps her self-esteem well。

Former researchers seldom realize that there are some similarities between Nora and Lu Shiping。 Few researchers put Lu Shiping together with Nora to compare these two female images before, and never discuss the reasons for their similarities and differences, while lots of researcher focus on the comparison between Nora and Fanyi who is another female image in Thunderstorm because both of their the ways of resistance are drastic。