论文总字数：27134字

摘 要

1. Introduction 1

1.1Margaret Mitchellamp; Gone with the Wind 1

1.2 Literature review 1

1.3 The need of the study 3

2. Men's oppression over women and nature 4

2.1 Men's oppression over women 4

2.1.1 Victims of Patriarchy: Ellen and Melanie 4

2.1.2 Resister of Patriarchy: Scarlett 5

2.1.3 The contrast between Scarlett and other women 6

2.2 Men's oppression over nature 6

3. The relation between Scarlett and nature under men’s oppression 8

3.1 The relations of status and experiences between Scarlett and nature 8

3.2 The interconnection between Scarlett and nature 9

4. Learning from Scarlett and developing women’s self consciousness 11

4.1Enlightenment from Scarlett 11

4.2The way we develop women's self consciousness 11

5. Conclusion 13

References 14

Acknowledgments

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Bao, a respectable, responsible and resourceful teacher, who has provided me with valuable guidance in every stage of the writing of this thesis. Without his enlightening instruction, impressive kindness and patience, I could not have completed this thesis. His keen and vigorous academic observation enlightens me not only in this thesis but also in my future study.

I would also like to thank all the other teachers for their enlightenment, knowledge, encouragement and help throughout my undergraduate study at NJTECH.

I shall also express my gratitude to the library of Nanjing Tech University for providing necessary references for the thesis.

Abstract

Ecofeminism is of great significance for feminism. A few studies have been conducted on ecofeminism. However, few studies reached consistent relations between nature and women. Although several studies have found the meaning of ecofeminism, little has been done with regard to the similarity between women and nature which can be taken as the starting point. By analyzing the fact that women and nature are all oppressed in male-dominated society, this paper discusses the relation between Scarlett and nature and Scarlett’s female consciousness.

This paper has given a deep discovery in the relationship between women and nature under men-dominant world. It has also pointed out the way which modern women should follow in order to be independent. This study has both theoretical and educational significance. Theoretically, it displays a clearer picture of ecofeminism through the analysis of Scarlett. Pedagogically, it arouses people’s attention to protect the nature and guides women to pursue a more independent life in modern society.

Key words: Gone with the Wind; Ecofeminism; Scarlett

中文摘要

生态女权主义对女性主义研究具有重要意义。对生态女权主义有一些研究，但很少有深入研究自然与妇女之间同命运的关系。虽然有几项研究接触到了生态女权主义的意义，但没有以女性和自然之间的相似性方面为起点。本文通过分析女性和自然在男性主导社会中受到的压迫，讨论了斯嘉丽与自然的关系以及斯嘉丽的女性意识。

本文对男性统治社会下女性与自然的关系就行了深入的讨论。也指出了现代女性为得到独立应该遵循的方法。在本研究既具有理论意义和教育意义。理论上，它通过对斯嘉丽的分析，显示出更加清晰的生态女权主义。在教育意义上，引起人们的关注去保护自然，引导妇女在现代社会中追求更加独立的生活。

关键词：《飘》；生态女权主义；斯嘉丽

Introduction

1.1 Margaret Mitchellamp; Gone with the Wind

Margaret Mitchell was born in Atlanta, Georgia, 1900. Her father was a lawyer and the president of the Atlanta Historical Society. Her mother was a suffragette who advocated women’s rights to vote and strove for the equality of gender. Mitchell’s life and work were deeply influenced by her family. She had a keen sense of Atlanta during the Civil War because many people who lived through that war often told her. Mitchell attended Smith College, a women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts. In 1919, she returned to Atlanta and began to live a life which was considered wild by the standards of the 1920s.

She is renowned for her masterpiece--Gone with the Wind and is regarded as the "Southern plantation legendary encyclopedia" by American literature. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1937, Gone with the Wind is a literary classic and one of the best-sellers among many countries. Since the first publishing in 1936, it has been translated into 29 versions with total sales of a good 30 million. The film adaptation of "Gone with the Wind " held its premiere in Atlanta on December 15, 1939, which caused a sensation in Hollywood, and quickly gone viral.

1.2 Literature review

Many scholars have made professional studies on this novel since its publishing. They made appreciation and analysis of this novel from different aspects. In their work “Gone with the Wind and Feminism”, Gu Shaoyang and Wang Yanli analyzed the inferior status of women in South America during the nineteenth century. They advocated women’s contribution to society, favored their pursuit of self-consciousness and decision-making power as well as their fraternity, selflessness and rebellious spirit, which has revealed the author’s opinion that women should be liberated from families. In 2005, Jing Xingmei’s “On Feminism in Gone with the Wind” concluded that the war and industrialization resulted in Scarlett’s transformation from a common woman to a new woman. In 2007, Zhai Xu made a contrast between Scarlett and Wang Xifeng in his work. And he found that these two women both had strong abilities and they tried their best in order to reach their goals. They were masters in their lives and both created ideal life. In 2009, Pan Lifeng and Liao Haiyan made a comparative study on Gone with the Wind and A Thousand Acres. They revealed the awakening of women in dilemma and their close relation with nature, which reflected the author’ s ecofeminism consciousness.

From the above, we get such a conclusion that studies of this novel were made mainly from the perspective of feminism, prototype images. This thesis will use ecofeminism theories to interpret the novel and analyze the relation between women and nature. Ecofeminism is a combination of the liberation movement and the ecology movement and an important branch of feminist study and the major schools of Ecology. This article analyzes ecological problems from the gender perspective, pointing out the domination of nature and patriarchy which is rooted in the patriarchal system. Ecofeminism has proposed inherent way of human thinking and changed the history of human being to protect the ecological environment. It maintains patriarchal society which is the ultimate cause of the men’s dominance over women and nature.

On the one hand, Ecofeminism strongly opposes patriarchal opinions that have ruled females and nature. On the other hand, it aims to pursue ecological sustainable development as well as equal status between female and male. Ecofeminism fights against the idea that women should be governed by men. It indicates that the liberation of women and nature could not achieved unless we bring the protection of environment and the salvation of women together.

This theory advocates the diversity of ecological culture, reinterpreting the relationship between human beings and other creatures, between humankind and nature. As a kind of creature, men should attach great importance to the protection of ecosystem, focus emphasis on the harmony between all creatures in order to achieve sustainable development. Margaret Mitchell described many women images with distinctive character, whose fates simultaneously intermingle with nature’s, thus fully reflecting the author's ecological feminist idea. "Gone with the Wind " is a positive representative of ecofeminism which has distinct contradistinction between the behavior that women get close to nature whereas men oppress it.

1.3 The need of the study

In the advent of the development of science and technology, human life has become much better. People’s crazy pursuit of material only to make the relationship between men and nature more tense. Therefore, it is essential for us to study the ecofeminism in this world renowned novel. This article is based on the study of the novel "Gone with the Wind " in the eyes of ecofeminism which is conducive to supporting other people to learn a more realistic ecological feminist connotation and fully understand the subject of the book in depth.

This paper has both pragmatic and academic significance. First, as an remarkable novel which reflects the independence of women, and it will encourage women to pursue their liberation and gender equality. It discusses gender discrimination and links the social rights with environmental protection together to fight for gender equality. Second, the analysis from the perspective of ecofeminism of this novel is helpful to the fundamental understanding of the novel and ecofeminist theories. Third, the analysis of different attitudes toward nature form both men and women shows the ecofeminist ideas that we should cramble for the environment-friendly society. Ecofeminist study in this paper will change the traditional view of the society and alleviate the increasingly serious ecological crisis and develop human’s consciousness of protecting nature.

Men's oppression over women and nature

In this part a discussion of men’s oppression over women and nature will be carried out. It will also point out what damages have been made under the patriarchal ideas. Ecological feminism holds that human civilization and social development are based on the suppression of women, and patriarchal society is built on this oppression over women and nature.

2.1 Men's oppression over women

Ecofeminism is built on the basis of criticizing the oppression over women and nature and advocates the respect for them. It maintains, in the patriarchal society, that the fast development of human civilization indulged the suppression over women. Women who lived in the old time and were fettered by tradition have no choice but to submit to the patriarchal society. In the "Gone with the Wind ", the female figures are under the repression of this patriarchy. Some females firmly stay on the old path and resist making any change, such as Ellen and Melanie. While other brave women have already had self-consciousness and identified the persecution from the old customs so that they are bold in rebelling the old and trying the new, such as Scarlett.

2.1.1 Victims of Patriarchy: Ellen and Melanie

Ellen is a typical good wife and great mother. She is gentle and kind who devoting her whole life to Tara and her husband. Her husband, though Ellen being smart and hardworking and winning the respect of all people, is the master of Tara that she has to succumb to her husband because she has a strong feeling of patriarchy. As a industrious woman in a patriarchal society, she has been devoted to her family, working hard and making them happy. But she still can not have equal status in her family which she deserves to get. She has no choice but to accept the unequal treaties written by the society at that time. For men, they take women's efforts for granted, and even believe that women are born to be dependent on them. Women are just resemble to their houses or other possessions which belong to men. In the male monopoly culture, men enjoy the privilege of ruling women.

Melanie is another Ellen with her life totally devoted to her husband and children. She has devoted herself to her family and lost her own life and faith. All people in the Atlanta praised her as an excellent example for women. In order to fulfill the obligations of women, her pregnancy is at the risk of her life. She is always nice to everyone around her and be kind to all regardless of their own life. Even if she knows Scarlett's obsession with her husband and the betrayal of Ashley, she is forced to accept this humiliation and give everyone an inclusive understanding. When she fights for her family, she has the courage, but she has no choice but to give herself to her husband. In the end, she died for the dystocia, because she insisted on delivering a baby for her husband.

2.1.2 Resister of Patriarchy: Scarlett

Scarlett has a strong rebellious spirit during her teenage years. She often protests her mother and nanny’s expectations which require her become a lady. She often plays with her male friends, and wears sexy clothes like adult women. In the treatment of her love and marriage, she dose not want to like other aristocratic lady in a passive and selected position, she take the initiative. She bravely expresses her love for Ashley. Fail to marry Ashley, she decides to get married with Charles in order to be closer to Ashley in her later life. The outbreak of the war has changed the status of Miss Scarlett's happy life as a young lady, in order to cover the family's food and clothing, she works as hard as a slave. In order to save Tara, she even sell herself to Brett Butler as his lover. After being rejected by Brett, she take away her sister's rich fiance Frank. After marrying Frank, Scarlett has challenged the view that men are superior to women.

Finding that the war has destroyed many houses needed to be rebuilt, Scarlett decided to build a sawmill to run her own business, while at that time, women go out of the house to do business is disgraceful behavior. In the competition with the business opponents,she is unscrupulous. In a patriarchal society, Scarlett's rebellion is criticized by the whole society. In Scarlett's third marriage, Brett can not control her independence and strength, after several years of painful contest, Brett abandoned Scarlett away. She is still full of confidence in her ability and hope even after so many sufferings. All of these have reflected her resistance to men's rule and manipulation of women’s destiny. Scarlett's failing marriage and painful life experience root in her strong conflicts with the patriarchal society. Scarlett lives in an era that women have no right to participate in many matters which have been dominated by men unconditionally.

2.1.3 The contrast between Scarlett and other women

After the outbreak of war, all female characters could not escape from tragic fate, Scarlett, Ellen and Melanie are no exception. Women’s life, love, ideas, marriage have experienced a serious destruction. Melanie is the opponent and a close friend of Scarlett. Her character has a sharp contrast with Scarlett’s. Melanie is simple, kind, warm and innocent, even cynical Reed is deeply touched by her kindness and considering she is a great woman. But Scarlett is a clever brave and strong-minded. Ellen and Melanie even succumb to the arrangement of their fate, and they are proud of their commitment to the traditional paternalistic system.

They all followed traditional dogma, and finally died for their unconditional sacrifice. Ellen and Melanie are not fully aware of the injustice between male and female, on the contrary, they are even more committed to the society. Aristocratic education and patriarchal ideology form their personality which is totally succumb to men and fulfill women’s obligation: delivering a baby and taking good care of husband and children. While Scarlett's rebellious spirit is obviously different from this compliance. Scarlett pursues freedom, not want to have children for men any more.

2.2 Men's oppression over nature

In the male-dominated world, male has regarded female and nature as their subordinate possessions. Nature is the mother of all creatures in the world, and women play the same role in human society. However, in the process of social development, nature has been overused, and the natural self-control mechanism has been involved in serious problems. Masculine regards men as the only owner of women and nature, and they are all men's private property. In the eyes of the people, nature is just a comfortable place where they can hunt, picnic, ride on the grass. For them, nature is their belonging, so they do not care about nature’s beauty and sustainability. They will conquer nature, regardless of their destruction to nature.

On the contrary, women have a clear opinion of nature. As a nature protector, they like and take care of it. Men can fight for their own honor and wealth, but never fight for nature. They only care about benefits after the exploitation of land, and will never care about the natural future sustainable development.

The relation between Scarlett and nature under men’s oppression

Ecofeminists consider that women and nature coexist and share the same situation under men’s dominance. They are both featured gentle and obedient to men who have absolute power and influences over them. This part focuses on the relations between Scarlett and nature, including the relation between their status and experiences and their interconnections.

3.1 The relations of status and experiences between Scarlett and nature

Ecofeminism considers the similarities between the historical positions of women and nature in a patriarchal society. It is essential to have full awareness of the deep relation between nature and Scarlett

In "Gone with the Wind ", Scarlett is taught to become a lady at a very young age so that she can obtain a man's approval in the future. After marriage, Scarlett should be subject to the constraints and oppression of her husband, to help him manage the manor, to assist the career of men. All efforts Scarlett made are belong to her husband. Scarlett is attached to her husband with low social status. And nature, in the eyes of men, is also insignificant. Men regard nature as horse racing and gathering place. In the war, men trampled nature for the sake of honor and interests, while Scarlett restored production and rebuilt their homes. Ecological feminism argues that in the culture of patriarchal society, nature and women have similar status, subordinate to male centers, and men treat both of them in the same way, with wayward plunder and trample.

In the "Gone with the Wind ", the slavery agriculture economy in the south provides Scarlett and other noble ladies with comfortable life, and they are busy in dancing, socializing and enjoying life all day long. The outbreak of war changed everything. In the Twelve Oak party, when the men heard the news about war, they excited and readied to go in the front. Scarlett is very puzzled with the war, and Melanie is also very sad. The war made Scarlett a widow and nature become obsolescent. Scarlett wants to run the land, to make money to feed her family. The war killed a lot of men in the battlefield, so many girls have no one to marry and have to live alone. The war also seriously destroyed the nature. Southern theater was devastated, the abandoned land, fertile soil become a battlefield with blood of soldiers. House and gardens were all tragically destroyed. Crops and vegetables rotten in the farmland. Once the best cotton farm has become barren, and it will take decades to recover the original productive capacity of the land. The woman's chance of thriving and nature’s right of sustainability are both deprived by the war which was launched by men.

3.2 The interconnection Scarlett and nature

Women are equal to nature and they have close relations. In the view of ecofeminists, women and nature have essential links, nature nurtured all things, women nurtured human. Women are the guardians of nature.

The war seriously destroyed the nature. The vast tracts of land in the south were barren and even abandoned because of the lack of labor. When nature is conquered, women are also enslaved. The war made women experienced great pain, so that they have to bear the burden which can not afforded even by men. On the eve of the war, Scarlett and other aristocratic ladies live a life without worrying about food or clothing. The outbreak of war changed all this. Women are not only emotionally deeply victimized by war, but also bear more responsibility and work after the war. Scarlett's mother died of typhoid fever after the war, her two sisters also bedridden. She decided to take care of the minded father, sick sister and the task of the depressed manor. Her whole life is depend on Tara. So she protect nature and not allow anyone to destroy her land.

Women guarding nature, at the same time, nature give the power for women to struggle. In the eyes of Scarlett, nature is the only thing worth fighting. Tara, Scarlett's spiritual home, is full of memory which always gives her the power for a better life and also gives her the courage to overcome any difficulty. Scarlett spent her beautiful childhood in Tara. When the civil war broke out, the burning of the land has made Scarlett realize that the loss is an indispensable part of her life, she deeply felt the preciousness of this land. She has become the patron saint of this land. When Tara faced the problem of confiscation, she even exchanged herself for $ 300 to keep Tara.

The land is her spiritual support guiding her life toward lighthouse when she gets hurt and loses confidence. She regards Tara as the source of life that she can recelve comfort. Whenever she suffers a setback, she returns to Tara. The hometown of red land will make her strength doubled and recover her confidence. "Tara will be like the mother of the earth to give her the same strength, and if she leave the land there for too long, she will be uncomfortable, where the flowers and trees will help her rehabilitation." So, Scarlett has been integrated with the land of Tara.

Learning from Scarlett and developing women’s self consciousness

Ecofeminism holds that the social mentality of oppression and domination over women is directly linked to the social psychology of abusing the global environment. It is high time women equipped themselves with the sense of feminist theories to pursue a more harmonious world which is full of equality, justice, and freedom.

4.1 Enlightenment from Scarlett

Scarlett completes the transformation from a capricious aristocratic girl to a tough-minded mature woman after the cruel war. Scarlett has experienced three marriages in twists and turns. Scarlett repeatedly married, widowed, was abandoned, ups and downs in the waves of love. But she firmly believes that: tomorrow will be better! The attitude that Scarlett trying to master her own fate is undoubtedly a very independent and valuable personality. As a rebellion of the old, the builder of the new, her series of abnormal behavior in the social turmoil have transcended the social orientation for women, highlighting self-consciousness. This is also an opposition against traditional opinions for women in patriarchal society. Scarlett is a leading role for women to learn from to challenge and overthrow the male-dominated society. At the same time, Scarlett reflects her respect and cherish for individual life. After ups and downs, Scarlett has completed the Nirvana and rebirth of herself. Scarlett female consciousness is her ideas of feminism. During her whole life, she has perused gender equality and self-independence. She has always sought for the only one she truly love and admited her sense courageously.

4.2 The way we develop women's self consciousness

During the 21^st century, we should have a keen sense of ecofeminism and a sober awareness of the fate of women and nature. Ecofeminism extends it against the discrimination of humans from the ecological community against gender discrimination. With the rapid development of industrialization, nature is confronting serious threats and great damages. Women must join hands and enhance the protection of nature with concerted efforts in order to establish a modern society in which men and nature can live in harmony.

Women can develop women's consciousness from three aspects: firstly, psychological independence. Women should eliminate the habits of totally relying on men. Female should, like Scarlett, pursue personality independence, thinking on their own. Secondly, act independently. On the basis of insisting on gender equality, women must embrace their own work, proving themselves with career achievements through hard work. Thirdly, women must reach balance between gender quality and feminism, pursing equality instead of domination. Women and nature will have a better tomorrow if women can have a strong sense of self consciousness.

Conclusion

Ecofeminism protests against all forms of discrimination, including anthropocentrism and androcentrism. In spite of great achievements we have made, however, environment and women are facing more and more oppression. The result of this study echoes the advocates of protecting our environment and the equal rights of female.

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