A Comparative Study Of Alexandra In O Pioneers! And Antonia In My Antonia From The Perspective Of Feminist Care Ethics

Willa Cather was known as one of the most outstanding female writers in the 20th century of American history,whose works were full of warmth,close to reality and brimming with reflection on human ethics.As two representative works of Willa Cather,O Pioneers!and My Antonia were highly praised by scholars at home and abroad.Scholars mostly analyzed these two novels from the perspectives of eco-feminism,feminism and mythological prototype.However,these two works contained many ethical factors which have not been thoroughly explored,such as people’s care and responsibility for family,human-nature relationship and personal success.Besides,the two main female characters,Alexandra and Antonia,had some similarities and differences ethically,which were worth exploring and studying.This thesis made a comparative study of the two female characters from the perspective of feminist care ethics.They were faced with ethical dilemmas in different ways in traditional ethics lacking in care for women.However,they got out of the ethical dilemmas in the male-centered ethical environment and gained ethical independence through regaining feminist ethical consciousness and finally fulfilled themselves and achieved their ethical values by demonstrating responsibility and care for nature,society,family and self,which was advocated by feminist care ethicists to improve relationships.Through a detailed study of the two female characters in the two novels from this perspective,we hope to have a better understanding of Willa Cather’s ethical thoughts.In addition,the study also has some social significance.Many of the current social conflicts are,in essence,the estrangement and alienation in relationships,resulting from the lack of love and the ruthless bondage of abstract principles,and the love and care shown by the two heroines in interpersonal relationships is the key to easing and resolving conflicts.Care ethics is not only an urgent need of the morally indifferent current society,but also a boon for the building of a harmonious society.