Abstract John Ernst Steinbeck, one of the most distinguished and important writers in the 20th century of American literature。 The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939, is the most successful masterpiece of John Steinbeck, which wins him the Pulitzer Prize in 1940。 John Steinbeck criticizes man’s oppression and domination over women and nature in America in 1930s through the description of the experience of Joad’s whole family, and illustrates the close relationship between the females and nature。87284
The Grapes of Wrath receives much concern since it has been published, and the scholars mainly focus on this novel’s descriptive methods and structural features。 This thesis analyzes this novel from the perspective of ecofeminism。 It emphatically and profoundly analyzes two women—Ma Joad and Rose of Sharon。 They are like the great and selfless nature, and have a harmonious relationship with it; furthermore, these two women possess the features of “mother earth”, but they and nature are both oppressed。
This thesis interprets two outstanding female images from the perspective of ecofeminism and it also guides the readers to have a better appreciation of the novel。 It is hoped that this paper can arouse more students’ and scholars’ interest to carry on the study of the novel。
Keywords: John Steinbeck; The Grapes of Wrath; ecofeminism; female images
Female Images in The Grapes of Wrath from the Perspective of Ecofeminism
Contents
Abstract in English I
Abstract in Chinese II
I。 Introduction 1
II。 A Brief Introduction to Ecofeminism 3
2。1 The Development of Ecofeminism 3
2。2 The Ecofeministic Thoughts of John Steinbeck 4
III。 The Similar “Mother” Status of Females and Nature 6
3。1 Ma Joad—A Symbol of Mother Earth 6
3。2 Rose of Sharon—A Symbol of Mother Earth 9
3。3 The Harmonious Relationship Between Females and Nature 10
IV。 The Similar Oppressed Status of Females and Nature 13
4。1 The Plight of Nature 13
4。2 The Plight of Females 14
V。 Conclusion 17
Bibliography 19
Female Images in The Grapes of Wrath from the Perspective of Ecofeminism
I。 Introduction文献综述
John Steinbeck, considered as one of the most distinguished and important writers in the history of American literature, was the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature。 During his whole life, he was prolific of works and he left many influential works to the later generations, and many of his works were written in 1930s which mostly mirrored social reality and the time characteristics of that time。