An Ecofeminist Study On Light In August

Written by William Faulkner, the most prominent writer in the twentieth century, Light in August has been under the focus of study by a great number of scholars. Based on the studies of the scholars both at home and abroad, this thesis attempts to discuss Light in August from the perspective of ecofeminism.Ecofeminism theory originates from the ecological movement and the feminist movement or a combination of the theories deprived from the two movements, and believes that there is a great affinity between nature and women as a challenge against male’s domination over women and human’s domination over nature, the typical perspective of the patriarchal society. Therefore Eco-feminists call for the reconstruction of harmony of the world order by the new principles of ecology and feminism, to free nature from over exploitation and liberate women from male oppression. In Light in August, Faulkner expressed his opinion of art and his attitude towards nature, society, traditional culture of South America through the description of women and nature, in which women suffering from male domination and nature losing its ecological balance and the inner connection of women and nature is exposed.This thesis will analyze the novel in light of ecofeminist theory, emphasizing on the relationship between male, female and nature. Chapter Ⅱ is the analysis of man’s destruction over nature. The relationship between man and nature in the novel has come to the most discordant degree. The natural beauty in American South that Faulkner treasured and loved in his life has been destroyed due to the inferior status of nature in dualistic oppositional pairs. While women’s situation was exactly similar with nature, chapter III is devoted to the analysis of men and women relationship with women as the victim of patriarchal society. After the discussion of the disharmony of nature and society in this novel, chapter IV is the analysis of women’s revolts and the hope of this novel Lena, which reveals the harmonious relationship between nature and women and Faulkner’s ecofeminist idea, his humanitarian and hope towards harmonious ecosystem.