Annie Proulx’s Ethics Of Care

Annie Proulx is one of the brilliant female writers in American literature. The Shipping News is one of her masterpieces. Critics interpret it from different perspectives. However, most of the research focuses on the language, symbolism and special characters of the novel; ecofeminist research is not common. This thesis tries to analyze The Shipping News from an ecofeminist perspective in light of ethics of care.Ecofeminism is a combination of ecologism and feminism. Ecofeminists believe that logocentrism is the root of natural and social crises. Therefore, it is necessary to deconstruct the thinking modes under the guidance of logocentrism, including anthropocentrism, androcentrism and hierarchy. Confrontation and oppression should be replaced by equality and love.This thesis consists of five chapters and conclusion. Chapter One introduces Annie Proulx and The Shipping News, the scholarly context and the significance of the research, methodology and structure of the thesis. Chapter Two discusses the care for nature reflects in the novel, and reveals the root of natural crisis:anthropocentrism. In Mockingburg, nature is severely damaged and human beings suffer from the consequences. Chapter Three is concerned about the care for women, and reveals the root of women crisis:androcentrism. In order to find their own positions in the society, three women in the novel make different efforts. Chapter Four pays attention on disadvantage groups including men, and reveals the root of social crisis:hierarchy. The protagonist Quoyle is treated with cold eyes and discrimination and never gets respect and care in Mockingburg. Chapter Five focuses on the construction of harmonious society, and reveals the guiding ideology of harmonious society:ethics of care. In Newfoundland, the relationships between human and nature, men and women, men and men are quite harmonious. The last part is the conclusion of the thesis. Annie Proulx is a writer with ecofeminist sense. By the comparison of Mockingburg and Newfoundland, she criticizes anthropocentrism, androcentrism and social hierarchy and constructs a harmonious world based on love and care.