An Eco-feminist Analysis Of The Edible Woman

Margaret Atwood is the queen of contemporary Canadian literature, enjoying a uniqueinternational reputation. In her works, her attention to the female and nature shows anobvious eco-feminist consciousness. Eco-feminism criticizes the dualistic thoughts of menand women as well as culture and nature. It advocates care to women and nature, finallyrebuilding a new world where males and females, men and nature can coexist and develop inharmony. Based on previous researches, this thesis conducts a systematic eco-feministresearch with detailed textual analysis on the first novel of Atwood–The Edible Woman,attempting to provide a new perspective to understand the novel and explore the socialmeaning of the novel from a deeper perspective.This thesis first explores the intimate external relationships between women and nature aswell as their similar victim status in patriarchal society, pointing out that women are theappendixes to men while nature is undergoing destruction in such a society. Thus, it isconcluded that patriarchy is the root of the oppression of both women and nature. Then, thethesis presents the deconstructive process of the patriarchy in the novel. In The Edible Woman,women like Maria and Ainsley challenge androcentrism with practical actions, while thechange of Duncan’s attitude to nature indicates the awakening of human beings’ ecologicalconsciousness. After that, this thesis further explores the new world after overthrowing thepatriarchy in the novel, in which men and women live in harmony, and human beings andnature co-exist harmoniously. This novel reflects Atwood’s eco-feminist thoughts: in the newworld, human beings and nature, men and women should rely on each other and seek mutualdevelopment, which will inspire us to meet the challenges confronting human society and thenatural environment.