An Ecofeminist Reading Of Desire Under The Elms

Eugene O’Neill (1888-1953) is one of the most significant figures in the history of American theatre, and the world theatre as well. During his artistic career, he constantly experimented with different styles and forms, bringing to American audiences many world-famous tragedies with colorful artistic styles. His middle stage work Desire Under the Elms (1925) is one of his greatest artistic achievements.In recent years, the emergence and development of ecofeminism has caught the attention of researchers from different academic backgrounds. Ecofeminists hold that human beings should give up the dualistic thinking and establish a new world where man and nature, males and females can harmoniously coexist. The thesis attempts to apply ecofeminist theory to interpreting Desire Under the Elms and explores how O’Neill’s ecofeminist consciousness is embodied in the play.By analyzing Eugene O’Neill’s ecofeminist consciousness and its origins, the thesis tries to interprete Desire Under the Elms with ecofeminist theory, In the play, O’Neill demonstrates that males’ twin domination of both females and the natural world has caused their miserable fate. O’Neill also indicates the convergence of women and nature. The thesis further reveals the revolt from women and nature against men caused by the patriarchal oppression. Through the depiction of men’s spiritual crisis, O’Neill attempts to demonstrate the negative effects from the patriarchal culture. Thus, the inter-dependence between man and nature, men and women must be highlighted to help reconstruct harmony.From above analysis, Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms is a play with deep ecofeminist consciousness. O’Neill’s insightful viewpoints on male-female and man-nature relationships revealed in the play are helpful to arouse people’s consciousness to construct a harmonious society. Thus, an analysis of the play under the perspective of ecofeminism has a realistic meaning in the modern society.