A Reading Of Ecofeminism In Margaret Atwood's Novels

Margaret Atwood, known as queen in the contemporary Canadian literature, enjoys a high reputation in the world as a poet, novelist and literature critic The awareness of the ecofeminism is clearly reflected in her novels, opposing to the pressure on women and nature under the rule of traditional patriarchy view of world and dualistic ideological, Ecofeminism attempts to explore the universal relationship t between degrading female and nature, and advocate building a bran-new relationship between mankind and nature. As a responsible author, Atwood has a close feeling toward nature too. In her writings, both nature ecology and female ecology in spirit are destroyed. The natural crisis is very similar in concepts and circumstances to female predicament. In this sense, Atwood has an identical pursuit with that of Ecofeminism.This dissertation, divided into five chapters, is to analyze Atwood's novels in the theory of Ecofeminism. The first part briefly introduces the origin, representative theorists and main views of Ecofeminism, Serving as the basis for the analysis followed, and investigates the reasons for the forming of Atwood's Ecofeminism awareness from the aspects of her childhood lives, influence of family and experience of studying abroad. The second part is to specifically elaborate the metaphor corresponding relationship between human-nature and male-female: nature is subjected to brutal rule from man, at the same time women are on the repressed fringe. The third part is devoted to deconstructing the causes for nature danger and female straits. They are due to the concept of science and technology, dichotomy thinking mode and male chauvinism, which is dominated by the cultural conception of patriarchy. The fourth part puts emphases on the revenge from nature on mankind and the gradually-realized awareness of rebellion that comes from female as an alliance with nature. The last part discusses the ecological ideal reflected in Atwood's novels. The dissertation will explore further into the consideration and seeking for the harmonious condition between two sexes and human-nature.