The Analysis Of Willa Cather's O Pioneers! And My Antonia From The Perspective Of Ecocriticism

Willa Cather (1873-1947) was one of the most famous and prolific women writers in American literature. Her reputation largely rests on her novels about immigrants on Nebraska prairie and the American Southwest. Her works have been interpreted from a wide variety of angles. Today the ecocritical or ecofeminist interpretation of her writings is becoming a focus of the critical attention. O Pioneers! is regarded as Cather's first novel of the frontier, and My Antonia as her masterpiece. In these two novels, Cather expresses her deep love for nature and her concern for the relation between nature and human beings.Ecocriticism, also called the studies of literature and environment, is a new kind of criticism trend in the west. One important motive of ecocriticism is to revitalize literary study and help address some of the pressing questions concerning our global and local ecology.This thesis attempts to study Willa Cather's O Pioneers! and My Antonia from the perspective of ecocriticism. It consists of an introduction, three chapters and a conclusion.The introduction firstly leads readers to get basic concepts of ecocriticism, including the origin and development of ecocriticism and a brief introduction of ecological consciousness, ecocentrism and deep ecology and ecofeminism. Secondly, it provides a brief summary of Willa Cather's literary life and current studies on her.Chapter One is the analysis of the characterization in O Pioneers! and My Antonia. The ecological consciousness is reflected in the creation of Ivar, Alexandra Bergson, Antonia, Jim Burden and his grandmother.Chapter Two analyzes ecocentrism embodied in Cather's presentations of Nature and Libido in these two works. Through the objection to anthropocentrism and dissatisfaction with patriarchal culture, Cather calls on to establish harmonious relation between nature and human beings and to liberate human nature.Chapter Three focuses on the analysis of Alexandra and Antonia from ecofeminist view. Alexandra derives strength from the land by establishing an intimate and harmonious relation with nature, which coincides with the central tenets of ecofeminism. And through creating Antonia, Cather expounds her expectations for women. That is, a woman should keep her womanhood as a female to embrace men, nature, and different cultures in her life.From above all, the conclusion points out that to appreciate these two novels written by Cather from the perspective of ecocriticism can enhance our understanding of this new literary critical trend in the 21st century as well as the novels and Willa Cather.