A Feminist Approach to the Reconstruction of ‘Fidelity Paradigm’ - A Case Study of ‘Jane Eyre’
Abstract
From a feminist perspective and using feminist translation theory as its theoretical framework, this article, subverts the traditional notion of ‘fidelity’ in translation through Sherry Simon’s feminist translation theory. It employs strategies of supplementation and hijacking to conduct a comparative study of male and female translations of Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’. This research demonstrates differences in translation strategies and ideological perspectives between male and female translators, indicating that female translators, when using the supplementation strategy, pay more attention to shaping female characters and qualities. They also incorporate their own understanding and sympathy for female characters into the translation process to highlight the translator’s subjective position. However, male translators may deliberately or inadvertently stigmatize, belittle, or mock female images in their translations. Therefore, female translators employ the hijacking strategy to intervene in the text with feminism and embed female thinking. The goal is to eliminate discrimination against women and strive for gender equality. And it highlights the identity and subjectivity of female translators and advocating for gender equality. At the same time, the strategies and significance of feminist translation theory provide rich intellectual resources for the criticism and development of translation theory.
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