An Eco-feminist Approach To Eat The Document

Dana Spiotta is one of the outstanding contemporary American writers. She won the 2008-2009 Joseph Brodsky Rome Prize by the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy. Eat the Document is her second novel, and her classical representative one. It becomes a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award and a recipient of the Rosenthal Foundation Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.This thesis attempts to interpret Eat the Document from the ecofeminist perspective after close-reading of the text. Ecofeminism, a movement with joint effort of Deep Ecology and Feminism, articulates the theory that the ideologies which authorize unjust gender, race, and class are related to the ideologies which sanction the exploitation and degradation of the environment. Its application to literary writing and criticism appeals to many considerate writers and critics who are concerned about the coexistence of mankind and nature as well as the equality between men and women.The thesis consists of five parts: the introduction, three main chapters and the conclusion.In the introduction, a brief survey of Dana Spiotta is made on her life and her works. The main ideas of the novel are briefly introduced and the critical reviews on this novel are summarized. Besides, the intention and innovation of this thesis are manifested.Chapter One is the theoretical foundation of the whole analysis. Ecofeminism, both as a movement and as a literary theory, is explained in some detail. The second chapter is a thorough textual analysis from the ecofeminist approach in terms of dualism. The setting, the characterization and the themes are respectively probed. Chapter Three mainly focuses on the deconstruction of dualism, criticizing the anthropocentrism and androcentrism which result in the twin domination of women and nature. To some extent, it reflects the author's appeals to reconstruct an equal and green society and the harmonious relationship between human beings and nature.In the conclusion, a summary is made about the research. Moreover, the future development of ecofeminism is prospected for further studies.