英语论文芦俊草《觉醒》的生态女性主义解读.doc 24页

'河南师范大学本科毕业论文河南师范大学本科毕业论文学号：1005114053《觉醒》的生态女性主义解读学院名称：河南师范大学外国语学院专业名称：英语教育年级班别：2010级4班姓名：芦俊草指导教师：刘丽娟2014年3月17 河南师范大学本科毕业论文TheEco-FeministApproachtoTheAwakeningAThesisSubmittedtoFacultyofInternationalStudiesofHenanNormalUniversityinPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsfortheDegreeofBachelorofArtsByLuJuncaoSupervisor：LiuLijuanMarch,201417 河南师范大学本科毕业论文AcknowledgmentsIwouldliketothankallthosewhohavegivenmeduringthewritingofthisthesis.Mydeepestgratitudegoesfirstandforemosttoprofessor,LiuLijuan,whohasofferedmevaluablesuggestionsintheacademicstudies.Inthepreparationofthethesis,shehasspentmuchtimereadingthrougheachdraftandprovidedmewithinspiringadvice.Withoutherpatientinstruction,insightfulcriticismandexpertguidance,thecompletionofthisthesiswouldnothavebeenpossible.IalsooweaspecialdebtofgratitudetoalltheprofessorsinForeignLanguagesInstitute,fromwhosedevotedteachingandenlighteninglecturesIhavebenefitedalotandacademicallypreparedforthethesis.Finally,Ialsoexpressmygratitudetomybelovedfriendsandclassmateswhohavealwaysbeenhelpingmeoutofdifficultiesandsupportingwithoutawordofcomplaint.17 河南师范大学本科毕业论文摘要凯特·肖邦是第一代从事妇女文学创作的美国南方女作家。肖邦生活在19世纪的美国社会,当时的社会不允许妇女拥有独立的人格和意志,妇女只是丈夫和家庭的附属品。肖邦在她的作品中对妇女的社会地位、婚姻家庭、爱情和自由进行了思考,从女性的视角呼唤属于女性自己的声音。女性的自我实现是肖邦所有作品的主题。凯特·肖邦的《觉醒》一直以来都被誉为19世纪末美国女作家的经典作品之一。这部小说讲述了一位富商的妻子———艾德娜艰难寻求精神解放和性解放的心历路程。小说揭示了女性与大自然之间的紧密关系:女性比男性更接近大自然,更具有天赋与自然进行交流，并在精神上达到与自然的统一。本文试图从生态女性主义的视角出发,通过大海、小鸟这两个多次出现的自然里的意象来解读在男权社会里生活的艾德娜慢慢觉醒并在大自然的启迪下最终实现精神重生。关键词：凯特·肖邦；《觉醒》；生态女性主义17 河南师范大学本科毕业论文AbstractKateChopinisthefirstgenerationfemalewriterwhoengagesincreationofliteratureinthesouthofAmerica.KateChopinlivedinthenineteenthCenturyinUSA.Thesocietydoesnotallowwomentohavetheindependentpersonalityandvolition,andwomenarejustmaleaccessoriesandtheybelongtotheirhusbandandhome.Inherworks,Katepaysattentiontothefemales’socialstatus,marriageandfamily,loveandfreedomandcallsthefemales’voicefromthefeminismperspective.KateChopin"snovelTheAwakeninghasbeenregardedasoneoftheclassicworksbyfemalewriterinnineteenthCenturyinAmerica.Thenoveltellsthestoryofarichmerchant"swife--Ednaandherstrugglestoaspirethespiritualliberationandtheliberationofherownpersonality.Thenovelrevealsthecloserelationshipbetweenwomenandnature:womenareclosertonaturethanmen,andaremoregiftedforcommunicatingwithnature,andthenachievetheunitywithnatureinthespirit.ThisarticleexplainsthenovelfromtheEco-feminismperspective.Withtheaidoftwoimagesinnature,that’sthebirdandsea,toexpressEdna’sgraduallyawakeninginthepatriarchalsociety,andherrebirthofsoulintheinspirationofthesea.Keywords:Kate·Chopin;TheAwakening;Eco-feminism17 河南师范大学本科毕业论文TableofContentsACKNOWLEDGEMENTSII摘要IIIABSTRACTVTABLEOFCONTENTSVIIIINTRODUCTION1PARTONETHETHEINTRODUCTIONOFTHEAUTHORANDTHENOVEL21.1abouttheauthor21.2aboutthenovel5PARTTWOTHEREFLECTIONOFTHEECO-FEMINISM92.1thedefinitionofEco-feminism92.2thenaturalimagesintheawakening102.2.1TheBirds102.2.2TheSea12PARTTHREECONCLUSION14WORKSCITED1617 IntroductionTheAwakening,isanovelwrittenbyKateChopin,anAmericawriter,andfirstpublishedin1899.Oncepublished.ThenovelwaswidelyattackedandvilifiedbecauseofthedescriptionofheroineEdna’sdeparturefromthetraditionalroleandthepursuitofindividualliberation,especiallysexualliberation.Finallyitistakenfromthebookstoreandtheauthorwasalsoforcedtoterminateherwritingcareer.Until50yearslater,withtheriseofwesternfeministmovement,thisbookgotthepraiseandChopinalsorosetofame.Meanwhile,chopinisregardedasanoutstandingrepresentativeoffeminism.TheAwakeningmainlytellsthestoryofEdnafromatypicalasanunderstandingwifeandlovingmotherintotheavant-gardewiththeconsciouspursuitoftheliberationofpersonality.Itisnotdifficultforthecarefulreaderstofindthattheheroine’sawakeningofpersonalityisachievedbytheaidofsea:inthesea,Ednalearnstoswimandfindsherownpotentialandunderstandsherselfmuchbetter.Attheendofthestory,Ednafindthatitishopelessforherselftopursuitfreedom,soshechosetoburyherselfnakedinthesea.Itfinallyrealizedthefinalfusionofwomenandnature(Theseaisregardedasanextensionofthesubconsciousactivitiesplatform,givingEdnathemotivepowertopursuittheliberationofself-consciousness,andthisgiveEdnaextraordinarycourageagainstpatriarchy.).Thenovel’sdepictiononthecloserelationshipbetweenwomenandnaturereallyreflectstheauthor"sEco-feministconsciousness.17 PartOneTheIntroductionoftheAuthorandtheNovel1.1AbouttheAuthorKateChopin,bornKatherineO"Flaherty(February8,1850—August22,1904),isanAmericanauthorofshortstoriesandnovels.Sheisnowconsideredbysometohavebeenaforerunneroffeministauthorsofthe20thcentury.From1892to1895,shewroteshortstoriesforbothchildrenandadultswhichwerepublishedinsuchmagazinesasAtlanticMonthly,Vogue,TheCenturyMagazine,andTheYouth"sCompanion.Hermajorworksweretwoshortstorycollections,BayouFolk(1894)andANightinAcadie(1897).HerimportantshortstoriesincludedDesiree"sBaby,ataleofmiscegenationinantebellumLouisiana(publishedin1893),TheStoryofanHour(1894),andTheStorm(1898).TheStormisasequelto"TheCadianBall,"whichappearedinherfirstcollectionofshortstories,BayouFolk.Chopinalsowrotetwonovels:AtFault(1890)andTheAwakening(1899),whicharesetinNewOrleansandGrandIsle,respectively.ThepeopleinherstoriesareusuallyinhabitantsofLouisiana.ManyofherworksaresetinNatchitochesinnorthcentralLouisiana.Withinadecadeofherdeath,Chopinwaswidelyrecognizedasoneoftheleadingwritersofhertime.In1915,FredLewisPatteewrote,"someofChopin"sworkisequaltothebestthathasbeenproducedinFranceoreveninAmerica.Shedisplayedwhatmaybedescribedasanativeaptitudefornarrationamountingalmosttogenius."In1869,Katewastwenty,andshemarriedOscarChopin,andsettledinNewOrleans.In1879Oscar’scottonindustryfailed,andhisfamilyhadtomovetoWenatchee,insouthNatchitochesParishtomanageseveralsmallplantationsandageneralstore.Theybecameactiveinthecommunity,andKatehadabsorbedmanywritingmaterialsinthefuture,especiallyregardingtheCreolecultureofthearea.In1882,Oscardiedofmalaria,leaving$12000debttoKate(approximately$250,000in2009money),Katetriedtorunthefarmingandgrocerystoresallbyherself,butitwashardforher.HermotherbeggedhertomovebacktoSt.Louis,soKatewithherchildrensettleddowninSt.Louis,andherfamilycircumstanceswasslightlyimproved.Thefollowingyear,hermother17 died.Chopinnowfoundherselfinastateofdepressionafterthelossofbothherhusbandandhermother.WhenKatewassufferingfrompsychorrhexis,thedoctoradvisedhertowriteandkeepquiet.Sheacceptedtheproposal,andsoonhertalentfortellingthestorywascomeback.Bytheearly1890s,shewroteshortstories,essaysandengagedintranslations,whichappearedinperiodicals,includingtheSt.LouisPost-Dispatch.Shehadbeenrecognizedastheregionallocalcolorwriter,butherliterarytalentwasoverlooked.In1899,hersecondnoveltheawakeningwaspublished,butitwascriticizedinliteratureandmoral.ThisisKate"smostfamouswork,andthecontentisaboutawomantrappedintheconfinesofanoppressivesociety.Outofprintfordecades,itisnowwidelyavailableandcriticallyacclaimedforitswritingqualityandimportanceasanearlyfeministwork.Someofherwritings,suchasTheAwakening,weretoofaraheadoftheirtimeandthereforenotsociallyembraced.Afteralmost12yearsinthepubliceyeoftheliteraryworldandshatteredbythelackofacceptance,Chopin,deeplydiscouragedbythecriticism,turnedtoshortstorywriting.In1900,shewroteTheGentlemanfromNewOrleans,andthatsameyearshewaslistedinthefirsteditionofMarquisWho"sWho.However,shenevermademuchmoneyfromherwriting,anddependedonherinvestmentsinLouisianaandSt.Louistosustainher.InAugust20,1904,KatevisitedtheSt.LouisWorld"sFair.Duringthisperiod,Katesufferedabrainhemorrhageanddiedaftertwodays,attheageoffifty-four.ShewasburiedinCalvaryCemeteryinSt.Louis.KateChopin"snarrativestyleinTheAwakeningcanbecategorizedasnaturalism.Chopin"snovelbearsthehallmarksofMaupassant"sstyle:aperceptivefocusonhumanbehaviorandthecomplexitiesofsocialstructures.ThisdemonstratesChopin"sadmirationfortheFrenchshortstorywriterGuydeMaupassant,yetanotherexampleoftheenormousinfluenceMaupassantexercisedonnineteenthcenturyliteraryrealism.However,Chopin"sstylecouldmoreaccuratelybedescribedasahybridthatcapturescontemporarynarrativecurrentsandlooksforwardtovarioustrendsinSouthernandEuropeanliterature.17 MixedintoChopin"soverarchingnineteenthcenturyrealismisanincisiveandoftenhumorousskeweringofupperclasspretension,reminiscentofdirectcontemporariessuchasOscarWilde,HenryJames,EdithWharton,andGeorgeBernardShaw.AlsoevidentinTheAwakeningisthefutureoftheSouthernnovelasadistinctgenre,notonlyinsettingandsubjectmatterbutinnarrativestyle.Chopin"slyricalportrayalofherprotagonist"sshiftingemotionsisanarrativetechniquethatFaulknerwouldexpanduponinnovelslikeAbsalom,Absalom!andTheSoundandtheFury.Chopinportraysherexperiencesofthecreolelifestyle,inwhichwomenwereunderstrictrulesandlimitedtotheroleofwifeandmother,whichinfluencedher"localcolor"fictionandfocusonthecreoleculture.ChopinadoptedthisstyleinherearlyshortstoriesandherfirstnovelAtFault,whichalsodealswithsomeoftheissuesofcreolelifestyle.ByusingcharactersofFrenchdescentshewasabletogetawaywithpublishingthesestories,becausethecharacterswereviewedas"foreign",withoutherreadersbeingasshockedastheywerewhenEdnaPontellier,awhiteProtestant,straysfromtheexpectationsofsociety.TheplotlooksforwardtothestoriesofEudoraWeltyandFlanneryO"ConnorandtheplaysofWilliamInge,whileEdnaPontellier"semotionalcrisesandhereventualtragicfalllookaheadtothecomplexfemalecharactersofTennesseeWilliams"splays.Chopin’sownlife,particularlyintermsofhavingherownsenseofidentity–asidefrommenandherchildren–inspiredTheAwakening.Herupbringingalsoshapedherviews,asshelivedwithherwidowedmother,grandmotherandgreatgrandmother,allofwhomwereintellectual,independentwomen.AfterherfatherwaskilledonAllSaints’DayandherbrotherdiedfromtyphoidonMardiGrasDay,Chopinbecameskepticalofreligion,whichshepresentsthroughEdna,whofindschurch"suffocating".BeingwidowedandleftwithsixchildrentolookafterinfluencedChopin"swriting,whichshebeganatthistime.EmilyTotharguesagainsttheviewthatChopinwasostracizedfromSt.LouisafterthepublicationofTheAwakening,statingthatmanySt.Louiswomenpraisedher;malecriticscondemnedhernovel.AspectsofChopin"sstylealsoprefiguretheintenselylyricalandexperimentalstyleofnovelistssuchasVirginiaWoolfandtheunsentimentalfocusonfemaleintellectualandemotionalgrowthinthenovelsofSigridUndsetandDorisLessing.Chopin"smostimportantstylisticlegacy17 isthedetachmentofthenarrator.1.2AbouttheNovelTheAwakening,originallytitledASolitarySoul,isanovelbyKateChopin,firstpublishedin1899.ThenovelissetinNewOrleansandSouthernLouisianacoastattheendofthenineteenthcentury,theplotaroundEdnaPontelliertellingheranti-traditionalstruggletoreconcileherincreasinglyunorthodoxviewsonfemininityandmotherhoodwiththeprevailingsocialattitudesoftheturn-of-the-centurySouth.Thenovelisthefirstonetoconcernaboutwomen"sissueswithoutarrogantwords.Itisconsideredasthemilepostofearlyfeminist,andcontinuestohaveadifferenteffectonthereadersandcritics.Thenovel"sblendofrealisticnarrative,incisivesocialcommentary,andpsychologicalcomplexitymakesTheAwakeningaprecursorofAmericanmodernistliterature;itprefigurestheworksofAmericannovelistssuchasWilliamFaulknerandErnestHemingwayandechoestheworksofcontemporariessuchasEdithWhartonandHenryJames.ItcanalsobeconsideredamongthefirstSouthernworksinatraditionthatwouldculminatewiththemodernmasterpiecesofFaulkner,FlanneryO"Connor,EudoraWelty,KatherineAnnePorter,andTennesseeWilliams.ThenovelbeginsthePontellierfamilyvacationingonGrandIsleataresortontheGulfofMexicomanagedbyMadameLebrunandhertwosons,RobertandVictor.LeoncePontellierisamerchantofLouisianaCreole,heandhiswifeEdnahadtwosons,EtienneandRaoul.Mostofthetime,EdnawastogetherwithherbestfriendAdeleRatignoller.Adeleisaboisterousandcheerfulperson,shecontinuestopromptEdnatodoherdutyasawifeandmother.InGrandIsle,EdnaandRobertLebrunbecamefriends,andthelatterisacharming,energeticyoungmanwhoactivelyseeksattentionfromEdna.Whentheyfallinlove,RobertsensesthedoomednatureofsucharelationshipandfleestoMexicoundertheguiseofpursuinganamelessbusinessventure.AfterThesummervacation,thePontelliersreturntoNewOrleans.Ednabeginstore-examineherownlife,andpaymoreattentiontoherownhappiness.Shegrowstogetoutofthesocialcircle,andgivesupsometraditionalmaternalduties.Leonceisworriedabouthermental17 abnormality,andasksforthedoctortohelpher.ThedoctoradvisesLeoncetoletherbeandassureshimthatthingswillreturntonormal.WhenLeoncestartstodobusinessinNewYork,hesendstheboystohismotherandleavesEdnaaloneathomeforanextendedperiod.Itgivesherenoughphysicalandmentalspacetothinkoverherlife.Whenherhusbandstaysout,shemovesoutofherhouse,andintoasmallbungalownearby.ShestartsflirtingwithAlceeArobinwhoisaplayboy.Inthenovel,Ednashowshersexualityforthefirsttime.Buttherelationshiphasbeenprovedtobeclumsyandominous.Mrs.EdnagoestovisitMissReisz,agiftedandfamouspianist,inNewOrleansbutwhomaintainsagenerallyhermeticexistence.Earlierinthenovel，ataparty,MissReisz"splayingdeeplymovesEdna.MissReisz’sliferepresentswhatEdnaalwayswanttolive:independent.Whatshefocusesonisnotthesocialexpectationbutherselfandthemusic.IncontrasttoAdeleRatignolle,thelatteralwaystrytopersuadeEdnatoobservetheconventionalstandards.MissReiszhascontactwithRobertinMexico,andgetslettersfromhim.Ednapraysforreadingthecontentsoftheletter,andMissReiszconsents,whichprovesthatRobertmissesEdna.Finally,RobertreturnstoNewOrleans.Atfirst,Robertputsonhissuperiorlook(lookingforanexcusetoavoidEdna),buteventuallyheadmitstolovingEdna.HeadmitsthathewenttoMexicoonbusinesswasjustanexcusetoavoidEdna.EdnaiscalledtohelpAdelewithdifficultlabour.AdelebegsEdnatoreflectonherselfandconsidertheconsequences.Ifsherepents,shewillbesaved.Whenshereturnshome,shefindsamessagefromRobertsayingthathehasleftforever.Despairingly,EdnarushesbacktoGrandIsle,whereshehadfirstmetRobert.Intheend,EdnacommitssuicideandultimatelyescapesbydrowningherselfinthewatersoftheGulfofMexico.KateChopin"snarrativestyleinTheAwakeningcanbecategorizedasnaturalism.Chopin"snovelbearsthehallmarksofMaupassant"sstyle:aperceptivefocusonhumanbehaviorandthecomplexitiesofsocialstructures.ThisdemonstratesChopin"sadmirationfortheFrenchshortstorywriterGuydeMaupassant,yetanotherexampleoftheenormousinfluenceMaupassantexercisedonnineteenthcenturyliteraryrealism.17 However,Chopin"sstylecouldmoreaccuratelybedescribedasahybridthatcapturescontemporarynarrativecurrentsandlooksforwardtovarioustrendsinSouthernandEuropeanliterature.MixedintoChopin"soverarchingnineteenthcenturyrealismisanincisiveandoftenhumorousskeweringofupperclasspretension,reminiscentofdirectcontemporariessuchasOscarWilde,HenryJames,EdithWharton,andGeorgeBernardShaw.AlsoevidentinTheAwakeningisthefutureoftheSouthernnovelasadistinctgenre,notonlyinsettingandsubjectmatterbutinnarrativestyle.Chopin"slyricalportrayalofherprotagonist"sshiftingemotionsisanarrativetechniquethatFaulknerwouldexpanduponinnovelslikeAbsalom,Absalom!andTheSoundandtheFury.Chopinportraysherexperiencesofthecreolelifestyle,inwhichwomenwereunderstrictrulesandlimitedtotheroleofwifeandmother,whichinfluencedher"localcolor"fictionandfocusonthecreoleculture.ChopinadoptedthisstyleinherearlyshortstoriesandherfirstnovelAtFault,whichalsodealswithsomeoftheissuesofcreolelifestyle.ByusingcharactersofFrenchdescentshewasabletogetawaywithpublishingthesestories,becausethecharacterswereviewedas"foreign",withoutherreadersbeingasshockedastheywerewhenEdnaPontellier,awhiteProtestant,straysfromtheexpectationsofsociety.TheplotlooksforwardtothestoriesofEudoraWeltyandFlanneryO"ConnorandtheplaysofWilliamInge,whileEdnaPontellier"semotionalcrisesandhereventualtragicfalllookaheadtothecomplexfemalecharactersofTennesseeWilliams"splays.Chopin’sownlife,particularlyintermsofhavingherownsenseofidentity–asidefrommenandherchildren–inspiredTheAwakening.Herupbringingalsoshapedherviews,asshelivedwithherwidowedmother,grandmotherandgreatgrandmother,allofwhomwereintellectual,independentwomen.AfterherfatherwaskilledonAllSaints’DayandherbrotherdiedfromtyphoidonMardiGrasDay,Chopinbecameskepticalofreligion,whichshepresentsthroughEdna,whofindschurch"suffocating".BeingwidowedandleftwithsixchildrentolookafterinfluencedChopin"swriting,whichshebeganatthistime.EmilyTotharguesagainsttheviewthatChopinwasostracizedfromSt.LouisafterthepublicationofTheAwakening,statingthatmanySt.Louiswomenpraisedher;malecriticscondemnedhernovel.17 AspectsofChopin"sstylealsoprefiguretheintenselylyricalandexperimentalstyleofnovelistssuchasVirginiaWoolfandtheunsentimentalfocusonfemaleintellectualandemotionalgrowthinthenovelsofSigridUndsetandDorisLessing.Chopin"smostimportantstylisticlegacyisthedetachmentofthenarrator.17 PARTTWOTheReflectionoftheEco-feminism2.1TheDefinitionofEco-feminismEcofeminismdescribesmovementsandphilosophiesthatlinkfeminismwithecology.ThetermisbelievedtohavebeencoinedbytheFrenchwriterFrançoised"Eaubonneinherbook,LeFéminismeoulaMort(1974).Eco-feminismconnectstheexploitationanddominationofwomenwiththatoftheenvironment,andarguesthatthereisaconnectionbetweenwomenandnature.Eco-feministsbelievethatthisconnectionisillustratedthroughthetraditionally"female"valuesofreciprocity,nurturingandcooperation,whicharepresentbothamongwomenandinnature.Additionally,Eco-feministsdrawconnectionsbetweenmenstruationandmooncycles,childbirthandcreationetc.WomenandnaturearealsounitedthroughtheirsharedhistoryofoppressionbyapatriarchalWesternsociety.VandanaShivaclaimsthatwomenhaveaspecialconnectiontotheenvironmentthroughtheirdailyinteractionsandthisconnectionhasbeenignored.Shesaysthatwomeninsubsistenceeconomieswhoproducewealthinpartnershipwithnature,havebeenexpertsintheirownrightofholisticandecologicalknowledgeofnature"sprocesses.Howevershemakesthepointthat"thesealternativemodesofknowing,whichareorientedtothesocialbenefitsandsustenanceneedsarenotrecognizedbythecapitalistreductionistparadigm,becauseitfailstoperceivetheinterconnectednessofnature,ortheconnectionofwomen"slives,workandknowledgewiththecreationofwealth.FeministandsocialecologistJanetBiehlhascriticizedEco-feminismforfocusingtoomuchonamysticalconnectionbetweenwomenandnatureandnotenoughontheactualconditionsofwomen.RosemaryRadfordRuetherjoinsJanetBiehlincritiquingthisfocusonmysticismoverworkthatfocusesonhelpingwomen,butarguesthatspiritualityandactivismcanbecombinedeffectivelyinEco-feminism.17 2.2TheNaturalImagesintheawakening2.2.1TheSeaInmanyliteraryworks,womenarealwayslinkedcloselywithwater,andtherearefilledwithrichandprofoundconnotation.wecanunderstandthisindifferentviews:“Accordingtothecharacteristicsofwater,wecansayit:itiscleanandcool,sweetandstatic,anditmeltsthing.....”.Theyrespectivelydescribewomen"charity,quietandsweetinnocence,generoustoleranceandcarefulsensitiveandfeedinghumansetc.wecanalsosay:"itiseasytodecompose,tosoakandattachothers.Meanwhile,itflowswithsounds,andoftenchangesindifferentclimate.Itisalsoeasytobepollutedcomingacrossthedirtythings......",Thesecanbeunderstandthatwomenareweak,anaclitic,talkative,moonstruckandetc.Certainly,thesurfaceisturbulentthanthebottomofwater,whichwecanlinkittothefemale’scalmappearancewithheartsurging.Intheawakening,"thesea"isoneofthemostimportantimage.Itnotonlyhastheaboveproperties,andhereitismorelikethemother,Nature,givingpeopleawarmfeelingincontrastwiththecoldcity.Lifeinthemale-centeredsociety,Ednakeepsfightingforthediscriminationandrestraintofunfairsocietyinsearchofself-consciousness.Therefore,shealsosuffersthepainanddifficultyofmind’sawakening.However,whenEdnacanswiminthesea,herrestlessheartandsoulgetcomfort.ItseemsthatEdnahasgottherebirth.Shemisfitswiththesurroundingsinthoughtsandbehaviors,butthevastexpanseofthesealikeaconsiderateSt.Femalewithabroadmindoftolerancetounderstandher;Herlaudshoutsofseekingfreedomcannotbeheard,buttheabysmalsea,likeagoddessofwisdomtolistentoherheart;Intherealworld,shecomesintoconflictwiththesocietyofthesacredrulesandreligiousorder,butwhensheisinthearmsofthesea,Ednafeelsasiftheworldrestraintisdisappeared.Allimportanteventsoccurringinthefictionalmostassociatewiththesea.EachofEdna’spsychologicalchangesariseinthesea,andeveryprocesslaysthefoundationforEdna’sdeathintheseaandbacktothenatureforever.17 Atthebeginningofthenovel,Ednaleavesherselfinacabinnearbythesea;Butafterthefollowingpeopleandexperienceappearinginherlife,shefindsherselfinthemiddleofaworld.Whichisfullofromanticcolorandstrangeness,asiftheseaistryingtowakeherbymusic,artandthedesireforfreedom.Shebecomesawareherexistence,especiallytheexistenceasaperson.Shetriestodiscardthefalsefaceandreturnsthetrueofherself,andneverobservestheconventionalstandards;Thisresistancebeginsfromconfrontingherhusbandsilentlyintobattlingagainstthewholeworldwithoutcaringabouttheconsequences.Inordertoescapethebondageofherhusband,shedecidestotoswiminthesea."Thevoiceoftheseaisfulloftemptation,andneverstop......"(P152),justasdescribedbyketaChopin,theclean,clearseaiscallingherandattracther;Thewaves’voiceawakeshersensesandherpure,romanticinstinct.Ednacan"tresistthetemptation,andinthefirsttimesheovercomesthefearforthevastseaputtingherselfintothearmsofthesea;Ednafeelssoexcitedandabsorbedwithoutanytieswhenswimmingfreelyinthesea,whichfivesherawonderfulchancetore-understandherselfandpurifyherheart.KateChopinreferstothe“thelightofsea”inthenovel,andthebeamoflightlightuptheroadaheadforEdna.ThenEdnagraduallyawakesfromdeepsleepandrecognizessheisaindependentpersonhavingherownconsciousness.Sincethen,theseedswithself-explorationandfaithofdesiringfreedomgerminatesinherheart,whentheseedsgrowsintotoweringtrees,Ednawillwakeupabsolutelybothinbodyandsoul.Theseaisnotonlythepowersource,butalsothecradleofspiritualrebirthforEdna’spursuitforself-consciousness.Attheendofthestory,broken-heartedEdnareturnstotheislandandcomestothesea;Thenshestepsintothesea,"Thewaterofseafloodedher,likeagentleandardentembracetobringherapleasure...SheislikeanewbornbabyStandingonthebeach..."(P152).Theseaislikeamothertocomfortinjuredchild.Returningtotheembraceofthemothermakespeopleforgetthepain.Inthissense,Edna’sdeathisreborn;soatthelastmoment,sheseemstobackchildhoods.ThisiswhyEdnastepsintotheseawithoutanyhesitation.17 Herselectionisnotblindimpulsionbutprofoundchoice;Sheneverwantstobefetteredbythesocialrulesandthereligiousorder,andnoonecanprocessesher.Shechoosestheseajustprovingthatshe,beingafemale,hastheabilitytodecideherowndestinyfromthesocietyfullofprejudice.Inthearmsofthesea,shelosesherbodybuthersoul’srenew.2.2.2TheBirdThemainstreamcultureintheWestbelievethathumanarethecenter,andthenaturebeinginthechargeofhumanhasnorightstospeak.Inhuman’scivilization,thebinaryoppositionbetweenthehumancivilizationandnatureisingrained,andthemenandhumancivilizationthatrepresentsthereasonstayinsuperstratum;Well,thewomenandnaturerepresentingtheperceptualarealwaysbeingruledkeepinthemarginalposition.thereisadescriptionappearsinthenovel:"Outsidethedoor,aparrotinthecagerepeatedagainandagaininFrench....."(P1).Sincethebirdcagecreatedbythehumancivilizationinthepatriarchalsystem,humansbeginwantonlycatchbirds,whichhavethebadinfluenceontheecologicalbalance.Thoughthebirdsinthecageneednotbebatteredbythewindandtherain,haveenoughfoodandsingeveryday,theylosethefreedomtoflyintheskytherightstoembracethenature.Thebirdisthesymbolsofthewomeninthemale-centeredsociety.Beforeawakening,EdnaisjustlikethecanaryinMrLeoncePontellier’scage.Herself-consciousnessissuppressed,andshekeepsinlinewiththeprevailingsocialstandardsandcustomsbeingThe"Lady".Namelywomanistheangelinthehouse“lookingchastity,piety,complianceandhousekeepingastheultimatepursuitoflife.IntheeyesofEcofeminists,manistherootchangingthewomen.Becausewhenthesocietyisinchargeofmale,themaleistherulingking,andtheynotonlygovernthenature,butalsocontrolthefateofwomen.Asafemalerepresentative,Edna’ssituationreflectsthatwomenarecontrolledinthepatriarchalsociety.Theylikeapieceofpropertybelongingtomen,andadollatthemercyofthegeneralsubjecttomen,theydothingsinmales’principle.Finally,womengraduallylosetheirownconsciousnessofexistencewithouttheirownpursuitlikethebirdsinthecage.Theyneverhavetherightstoliberatethemselvesandgetthefreedom.WithEdna"sawakeninggraduallyripe,herdesiretogetridofthecagebecomessostrong17 thatherchildrencannotstopherpaces.Inthissituation,Ednathinksthatherownexistenceismoreimportantthantheexistencebeingamotherandawife.Atfirst,sheisa“person”followedbythemotherandthewife;Afterwards,sheabandonsherfamily,societypositionandtheluxurylifetomoveinto"hernewlittlehome".Shedoesn"thavetohearfromherhusband"s"command"andmindstheeyesofothers;Shecandowhatshewanttodowithoutherhusband’spermit.Butafterashorttime,shefindshimselfseemedtoburstintoanother"cage";Althoughthelittlehomeprovidesherafreespacetoremainfree,andsheneednotliveinthe“goldcage”madebyherhusband,thiskindofindependencedoesnotbringherthehappinessshelongingfor.Again,shegetintoanothercagebecauseoftheseparateofherbodyandsoul.Ednaissohelpless,andthistimeshechoosestheseatoarrangeherbodyandsoul.Inthesea,sheswimsfurtherandfurtherawayfromtheoppressioninthepatriarchalsociety.Edna’ssuicideexplainsthatgettingfreedommeanshighpayinthepatriarchalsociety;Thebirdsflyingintheblueskycanenjoythefreepleasure,andcanappreciatethebeautyofnature;Butonlythestrongbirdscanexposetowindandrainthesky,otherwisetheywilllosefreedomandbecomehumancaptivesorbelostinthejunglewithbrokenwings.Thebroken-wingedbirdsymbolizesEdna,andMissReisehadwarnedEdna:"Thebirdsflyingonthetraditionandprejudicemusthaveapairofpowerfulwings.Theweakcanonlyhurt,Terriblyfatigued,finallyfalldowntotheground"(P121)17 PARTTHREECONLUSIONFemalearesimilarwithnatureinthebirthofbiologicallife.Meanwhile,womenandnaturearesimilarinSymbioticandisostructuralcharacter.Allofthesehuman’ssubconsciousnesshadalreadyformedintheearlydays.Itisactivatedwhenwomenandnatureintheoppressioncurrently.Ecofeministbelievesthatwomen’sbondageandoppressionstartsfromtheenslavementofthenature.Inoursociety,maleshavethecompletedominance,andthedestructionofnatureandtheoppressionofwomenarecompatible.Althoughtherearenomajordescriptionsofthenaturaldestructionbycivilization,butthereisaobviouscontrastbetweenthecommercial,systematicandstandardizedhumancivilizationCommunityandthesimple,naturalholidayislandfromthenovel.Inthenovel,KateChopinwritesthelovefortheseaofwomen,andfeelsthecloseofseabywomen’sexperience.Alloftheseshowusacourageousandinflexiblewomaninthepursuitoffreesoul.Herlifeisinterrelatedwiththesea.Thisreflectstheharmonybetweenwomenandnature.ontheotherhand,thecontrasttocagelingandfreebird,andthedescriptionofEdna’sawakeningrevealobjectivelythenatureandwomen’sdoublestraitsinthepatriarchalsociety.Sowecanseethattheserenesoulisdestroyedbythesociety.Beneaththeauthor’swriting,theheroineEdnatriestofindherselfwhenlosingegointhepatriarchaloppression,whichexposeswomenrepresenting“theother”inthepatriarchalsociety.Theconstructionofthecitycivilizationmakesthewomensuffermoreoppression.Surroundedbypatriarchalculture,Ednafailstoescapefailureanddeath,butsheneverkeepssilentinthelastmomentsofherlife.Ednakeepsonfightingagainstmalechauvinism,lookingforherself,liberatingherselfandseekingtheintersexualequalityandfreedom.Inthisprocession,sheisclosetothenature,andtheyechoeseachother.Theseaisregardedasanextensionofthesubconsciousactivitiesplatform,givingEdnathemotivepowertopursuittheliberationofself-consciousness,andthisgiveEdnaextraordinarycourageagainstpatriarchy.Thewholestoryshowstheauthor’ssolicitudeforwomenandpraiseofreturningtonaturallife,whichdisclosesKate’sideal.Inthisideal,theauthorsparesnoeffortstodispelthe17 traditionalandpatriarchallogictobuildaharmoniousandecologicalsociety.Therefore,theawakeningisafableofthepatriarchalrulesonwomenandnature.ThethoughtsthatembodiesintherelationbetweenwomenandnatureincludingthesensualrelationshipininternalhappenstocoincidewithEcoFeminism.WecansaythatthenovelisaclassicalworkfulloftheEcofeministimplication.17 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