| Abstract | 第3-4页 |
| 摘要 | 第5-9页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第9-21页 |
| 1.1 Doris Lessing and Her Novel The Summer Before the Dark | 第10-13页 |
| 1.1.1 A Brief Introduction to Doris Lessing | 第10-12页 |
| 1.1.2 A Brief Introduction to The Summer Before the Dark | 第12-13页 |
| 1.2 Literature Review | 第13-17页 |
| 1.2.1 Studies on The Summer Before the Dark Abroad | 第14-15页 |
| 1.2.2 Studies on The Summer Before the Dark in China | 第15-17页 |
| 1.3 Ethical Literary Criticism and Significance of the Study | 第17-21页 |
| 1.3.1 A Brief Introduction to Ethical Literary Criticism | 第17-19页 |
| 1.3.2 Significance of the Study | 第19-21页 |
| Chapter Two Pursuit of Harmony Because of the Corruptive EthicalEnvironment | 第21-33页 |
| 2.1 The Striking Class Distinction | 第21-26页 |
| 2.1.1 The Hedonism Value of Upper Class | 第21-23页 |
| 2.1.2 The Conservative Value of Middle Class | 第23-25页 |
| 2.1.3 The Pessimism Value of Lower Class | 第25-26页 |
| 2.2 The Unbalanced Gender Relation | 第26-33页 |
| 2.2.1 Female—“the Other” | 第26-29页 |
| 2.2.2 Male—“the Dominator” | 第29-33页 |
| Chapter Three Pursuit of Equality within the Dislocation of Ethical Identities | 第33-47页 |
| 3.1 The Imbalance on Love | 第33-38页 |
| 3.1.1 The Enviable but Miserable Marriage of Kate and Michael | 第33-36页 |
| 3.1.2 The Romantic but Frustrated Love between Kate and Jeffrey | 第36-38页 |
| 3.2 The Hypocrisy of Friendship | 第38-43页 |
| 3.2.1 Kate and Mary | 第38-41页 |
| 3.2.2 Kate and Maureen | 第41-43页 |
| 3.3 The Neglect from Family Members | 第43-47页 |
| Chapter Four Pursuit of Freedom with the Awakening of Ethical Consciousness | 第47-59页 |
| 4.1 Kate’s Leaving Home—Losing Ethical Identity | 第47-51页 |
| 4.1.1 Angel in the House | 第47-48页 |
| 4.1.2 Desperate Housewife | 第48-51页 |
| 4.2 Kate on the Journey—Making Ethical Choice | 第51-54页 |
| 4.2.1 Dream of Seal | 第51-53页 |
| 4.2.2 Dream of King | 第53-54页 |
| 4.3 Kate’s Returning Home—Awakening Ethical Consciousness | 第54-59页 |
| 4.3.1 Self-Reflection on the Appearance | 第54-56页 |
| 4.3.2 Self-Discovery of the Inner Mind | 第56-59页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第59-61页 |
| Bibliography | 第61-65页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第65-66页 |
| 在读期间公开发表论文（著）及科研情况 | 第66页 |
