An Ecofeminist Reading Of D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover

This thesis will interpret D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover from the perspective of ecofeminism. Ecofeminists criticize the dualistic thought, value hierarchy and the logic of domination formed since Enlightenment in men's relation with women and nature. They argue that the domination over women and nature stems from the same source—the western patriarchal dualism, which has established the men's superior position and their reasonableness of domination over women and nature. Ecofeminists challenge the patriarchal dualistic framework, call into question the assumed superior position of men above women and nature and advocate establishing a new and equal relationship between man and nature, man and man.With the approach of ecofeminism and a text-based analysis, this thesis explores Lawrence's concern about women and nature and his celebration of woman-nature connections in Lady Chatterley's Lover. It has analyzed the victimized situation of Connie and nature in patriarchal society, traced the roots of their oppressed position and celebrated Connie's combination with nature to revolt against Clifford's domination. Among the women characters created by Lawrence, Connie in Lady Chatterley's Lover attracts the most controversy, sympathy and concern. Although being trapped by her dull martial life, Connie persists in seeking her true love and the truth of life. Her change of role from a baroness and manor hostess to the lover of a gamekeeper symbolizes a conversion from a"civilized"person to a natural one. In the process of conversion, nature provides a sanctuary for her and paves the way for her awakening. Connie, as a victimizer of patriarchal society and a witness of the destruction done to nature by man, is finally aware of the same oppressed situation of woman and nature and the hypocrisy of patriarchy. Thus, she chooses to unite with nature to revolt against the patriarchal domination and finally gains her liberation from nature. With its deep social, cultural and ecological connotations, the novel is significant in enlightening us to build a new world, where men and women, men and nature are in harmonious and healthy relationship.