The Eco-Feminist Analysis Of The Fate Of Female And Nature In Gone With The Wind

Gone with the Wind, known as an "encyclopedia of the plantation legend", is the spectacular masterpiece of legendary American female author Margret Mitchell. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in1937and became a focus of study for critics from home and abroad. Gone with the Wind portrays a series of female characters. They have their distinct personality and fate. Facing the fortune and misfortune in their lives, they make their own choice, learn important lessons about life and love, and lead to different endings. And along with the female, the nature is also closely connected to women. This interrelationship reflects Mitchell’s ecofeminist thought. This paper attempts to analyze Gone with the Wind on the basis of ecofeminism to broaden the investigative perspective of the work.This paper consists of five parts.The first part includes a brief overview about the author Margret Mitchell and content of Gone with the Wind. Then scans the critic reviews on Gone with the Wind at home and abroad.The second introduces the theoretical foundation of this thesis---the theory and the developments of ecofeminism.The third part reveals the close interconnection between nature and female. It illustrates the "feminized" nature through the interpretation of image of earth and house and its significance to female, which is embodied in the essense of living, the spiritual homeland and the final destination. In addition, through the image of Scarlett and Ellen it illustrates the "naturalized"female.The fourth part explains the distinctive Scarlett and Ellen female images and their tragical fate. Scarlett is a strong and rebellious fighter, who experiences a process of a metamorphosis in the course of the war. From a spoiled and vain upper lady to a strong and component householder, Scarlett finally becomes a independent and mature businesswoman. Ellen is described as "Angel in the House", who is an idealized and traditional feminine image:a wife and mother who selflessly devotes to her family and is obedient to her husband. Then, the war’s destructive influences on women and nature is also discussed. In addition, this part probes the factors of the nature and female’s sufferings. Firstly, it explores the heroine Scarlett’s personal factors. At the macro level, the deepest root lies in the male-dominated patriarchal society. Meanwhile, serving as the tool of patriarchal culture, war has brought the catastrophic destruction for female and nature. At that time, the campaign of ecofeminism has not risen yet, so that women have no conscious to fight for their equal rights. Finally, it explores the practical significance and enlightenment for modern women from the analysis of Scarlett and Melanie. Modern female will benefit a lot for their job market, their love and marriage life as well as their interpersonal relationships.The fifth part concludes the contents of the paper and points out the significance of the study. From Mitchell’s humanistic and ecological concern with nature and female, it is obvious that she is a writer with strong ecofeminist awareness. This thesis expects to appeal to the revaluation of nature and female’s fate and social position, in order to construct a harmonious society which men, women and nature coexist peacefully.