Women Under the Male Gaze: Analysis of Female Images in Wang Anyi's The Song of Everlasting Sorrow

The character of Wang Qiyao, a literary archetype created by Wang Anyi in Song of Everlasting Sorrow, is often interpreted as embodying feminist ideals of independence and resilience. However, an analysis of the novel—encompassing its portrayal of Shanghai, Wang's relationships with male characters, and broader narrative context—reveals that her depiction across narrative, authorial, and readerly perspectives remains entrenched within the male gaze, lacking authentic feminist agency. Rather, Wang exemplifies the "petite feminine" archetype prevalent in traditional Chinese patriarchy: a woman shaped by male scrutiny and devoid of genuine self-awareness.