| Willa Cather(1873-1947)who achieves recognition for her writing of western frontier life is regarded as one of the greatest American writers in the twentieth century.O Pioneers!(1913),the first book of Cather's Prairie Trilogy,depicted a very courageous and independent woman pioneer Alexandra Bergson,who made a c,omplete contrast to the traditional weak women images and for a long time has attracted the attention of feminist critics.Focusing on the woman and nature description in the book,the thesis uses Elaine Showalter's theory of female literary tradition to analyze Alexandra's development during her frontier exploration.The tihesis believes that Alexandra experienced three phases'development from "Feminine phase" to " Feminist phase" and "Female phase".During this process,she gradually awoke an ecofeminism consciousness and finally became an ecofeminist,achieving a harmonious relationship with man and nature.This thesis consists of five chapters including introduction and conclusion.The first chapter introduces Cather's life and her writing of O Pioneers!.Literature review and the research significance of this thesis are included in the introduction as well.Chapter two discusses that Alexandra in the "Feminine phase",is internalized the patriarchal concept with little ecofeminism awareness as she debases women and uses nature as a tool.In the third chapter,Alexandra is in her "Feminist phase".She fights against the patriarchal oppression,observes the innate value of woman and nature and their innate connection and awakens an ecofeminism consciousness.In the chapter four,Alexandra enters the "Female phase" and recognizes her woman identity.With a mutual respect and love with men,she dissolves the binary of man and woman and the binary of human and nature and grows to be an ecofeminist.The last chapter is the conclusion of the thesis,giving a summary of the development of ecofeminist Alexandra as she completes the three stages of Showalter's female literary tradition. |
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