An Ecofeminist Approach To The Bluest Eye

Ecofeminism was the social movement that regards the oppression of women and nature as interconnected. It emerged in 1970s and greatly developed in 1990s. It was one of the few movements and analyses that actually connect two movements. Ecofeminist criticized patriarchy-centered culture and praised femininity. More recently, ecofeminist theorists had extended their analyses to consider the interconnections between sexism, the domination of nature (including animals), and also racism and social inequalities. Consequently it is now better understood as a movement working against the interconnected oppressions of gender, race, class and nature.As a Nobel Prize winner and a woman of color, Toni Morrison is one of the most valuable figures of contemporary American literature. Her works have generated much interest among Psychoanalytic Critics, Postcolonial Critics and Feminist Critics. In addition, she is accomplished in absorbing new theories of literary development and getting the big picture of society and race from small details of her characters. On one hand, Toni Morrison's works are influenced by the traditions of African American Literature. On the other hand, her concepts are mastered by Western tradition. Therefore, both the inheritance of traditions and the innovation of new theories are included in her fictions. She maintains uniqueness of Black American Literature which is also called Blackness. In contemporary woman novelists of America, Toni Morrison is the rare one who thinks highly of nature in her works. In terms of sexism, Morrison praises highly the partnership between man and woman. Women take in the same responsibilities as men do, instead of belonging to men. And men do not feel threatened because they need women.The Bluest Eye was Morrison's first novel created in 1970, but now it was still very popular and draws much attention from scholars. Many scholars studied this novel in terms of Psychoanalytic Critics, Postcolonial Critics and Feminist Critics. As the emerging of ecofeminism, some studier began to research this novel in terms of ecofeminist Critics. However, the quantities of these studiers were small. According to data collection, this research was worth doing. Moreover, this novel could largely represent theories of ecofeminism and the early thoughts of Toni Morrison.There are four parts in this thesis. Research contents, values and methods have been introduced in the introduction. The second part has been divided into three aspects. They are the schools of ecofeminism, Morrison's thoughts on ecofeminism, and ecofeminist thoughts in her works. The third part is the key point of whole passage and has been divided into three aspects which are cultural ecofeminism representing gender discrimination, social ecofeminism representing classism, and third-world ecofeminism representing racism. These three aspects are the main schools of ecofeminism. Cultural ecofeminism has been analyzed through the illustration of rape, menstruation and natural images in the novel. These illustrations emphasize women's femininity and the connections with nature. Through the kitchen in which the story takes place and the description of housework, the concept of social ecofeminism can be seen. Social ecofeminists insist that women are close to nature through their long-time social roles which are pregnancy, giving birth, raising children and doing housework. These kitchen scenes and housework description embody the unfair social roles of women. From the third-world ecofeminist perspective, characters'experiences explain and prove the advantages of women of color being the ecofeminists. Pecola's tragedy, Claudia's resistance, Pauline's salvation and Geraldine's cleanliness have been stated in this aspect. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that we can specifically and systematically know the theme of novel, Morrison's early thoughts of ecofeminism, and the overall understandings and expectations on ecofeminism through ecofeminist thoughts in The Bluest Eye.