An Ecofeminist Reading Of The Mill On The Floss

George Eliot is one of the greatest novelists in the Victorian period in Britain, whose works occupies an important position in the English literature for deep philosophical thought and exquisite psychological description. By using the theory of ecofeminism, this thesis focuses on her novel The Mill on the Floss, revealing both the ecological consciousness and the feminine consciousness contained in it and exploring the author's ideal of pursuing women's revolution which expects the harmony between male and female, human beings and nature.Firstly, the relationship between nature and women is unity. Nature has the characteristics of women and vice versa. Nature is the source of strength to Maggie while Maggie is full of sentiment towards nature. Secondly, the destruction of nature is the same as the oppression of women by the patriarchal society. The beautiful old British countryside is distorted beyond recognition under the strong influence of industrialization while Maggie suffers from the restriction and the oppression of her father, brother, lovers and those women who are assimilated by the patriarchal society. Thirdly, the oppression towards nature and women can arouse their instinctive revolt, such as the flood in the end and Maggie's rebellious spirit regarded as her resistance towards the conventional customs. However, Maggie's revolt is doomed to contain some compromise due to Eliot's limitation. Both revolt and compromise reflect the sincere wish held by the author for creating a brand new world of equality and harmony of women and men, human beings and nature.Above all, George Eliot's criticism towards patriarchy and her consideration towards the relationship between men and women, nature and human beings guide people in realizing the importance of nature and lead women in pursuing their own ideal. Her point of view accords with the idea of ecofeminists, which has a great significance of enlightenment to us today.