An Interpretation Of Thomas Hardy’s Eco-feminism In Tess Of The D’urbervilles

Thomas Hardy, a great British critical realistic writer, is noted for the novel ofcharacter and environment, whose representative work, Tess of the d’Urbervilles enjoys anoutstanding position. Nature and women are two main sources of his inspirations andfocuses. In Hardy’s eyes, nature and women are closely related: women exist in nature andnature is the incarnation of women. Nature and women share a great amount ofcharacteristics, including the fate. Eco-feminism is a natural outcome of the combination offeminism and ecology movement. Eco-feminists believe that women controlled by menhave an inborn intimacy with nature ruled by human beings, which is manifested by thevalues of patriarchy. In their opinion, the world should be redesigned according to theprinciples of ecology and feminism, in which both women and nature are liberated fromexploitation.Eco-feminism and Hardy’s values of environment and women are incorporated in thisthesis. First, the thesis introduces Hardy’s eco-feminism was formed and how he createdTess of the d’Urbervilles from the perspective of eco-feminism. Then, the tragedy of Tessis interpreted from the point of view of the relationship between women and nature and itis believed that Tess and nature not only have the intimacy but also share the same destiny.Furthermore, the tragedy is expounded from the point of view of the relationship betweenwomen and society and it is believed that the tragedy is inevitable due to the political,social, and moral backgrounds of that time. Next, the thesis elaborates on how Tess’sconsciousness of feminism evolved and how she challenged the deep-rooted attitudestowards virginity. Finally, the significance of Hardy’s eco-feminism in modern society isdiscussed and it is suggested that a harmonious world should be built, in which men andwomen are equal; all species are equal; harmony between two sexes can be achieved;human beings and nature can co-exist in peace.