Charles Frazier’s Ecofeminist Consciousness In His Cold Mountain

Cold Mountain is Charles Frazier’s first novel. It won National Book Award in1997, for thedescription of the complex sentiment and relationship between human and the land. In1998, itwas among the top10best-selling books, and the American media and literary critics spared noeffort to praise highly of it. At home, it has drawn many readers’ attention.Cold Mountain narrates that at the end of Civil War, co-protagonist Inman turns his back onthe carnage of the battlefield and returns to Ada, the woman he loved before the war began. Atthe same time, Ada with Ruby’s help, returns to nature and gains a new life. Though set in anearlier time, it is contemporary in the profoundest sense. Taking war as a mirror, it reflects thatthough human beings’ life aloof from nature with each passing day, nature, as a dream, concealsin people’s subconsciousness. Facing the complicated world situation, people are longing forpeace and love, and pay more attention to the harmonious relationship between man and nature.Ecofeminism deconstructs anthropocentrism and androcentrism; concerns the fate of natureand woman; gives positive value to the connection between women and nature; advocates mutualdependence and reliance among individuals. Ecofeminists are dedicated to building a colorfuland dynamic world characterized by equality of men and women, harmony between the sexes,racial equality, harmony between human society and nature and cultural and biological diversity.The ideas conveyed by Frazier in his novel Cold Mountain happen to be the same asecofeminists’ ideal. So from the perspective of ecofeminism, this thesis analyzes Frazier’secofeminist consciousness in his novel. The thesis analyzes an interrelated and mutual caringrelationship, emerging in his novel. The relationship does not only exist between nature andhuman, but exists between men and women and different races as well. It is this interrelated,mutually caring and mutually dependent ideology that ensures the survival and development ofhuman being.Introduction includes a brief presentation of the author and the work, and states the studyquestions: how Charles Frazier portrays the relationship of human with nature, men with womenand different races and the significance of such relations.Chapter one is literature review that is about an overview of the relevant ecofeminist theoryand relevant study about the novel Cold Mountain.Chapter two reveals Frazier’s critique of patriarchal ideology. At the same time, he givespositive value to the connection of women with nature, which is the right way to ensure thesurvival and development of women and the harmonious development of human society.Chapter three gives proof to the ecofeminist viewpoint that women are closely connected tonature through the character Ruby. The argument develops from three aspects. Firstly, nature is a shelter for women. Secondly, women are more intimate to nature than men. They have a gift tocommunicate with nature and spiritually blend to one with nature. Finally, Western modernscience destroys the close connection between human and nature. Ruby is doubted about moneyand western industrial civilization. She claims that nature can satisfy people’s needs perfectly.Chapter four centers on co-protagonist Inman, exploring Frazier’s ecofeministconsciousness. Through Inman, Frazier condemns the destruction brought to nature and humanourselves by war in such a patriarchal society. Frazier expresses his hope of the harmoniousco-existence of nature and human, and his pursuit and recognition of real equality andharmonious relations between sexes.Chapter five sketches out the race relations in the novel. As can be seen, besides payingattention to the harmonious relationship of human and nature, men and women, Frazier fightsagainst all kinds of ruling forms and pursues racial equality and harmony.Conclusion sums up the ecofeminist consciousness in the novel. Frazier criticizespatriarchal ideology and condemns war’s destruction on nature and human. He gives positivevalue to the close connection between human and nature. From nature, co-protagonist Ada getsthe power to fight against patriarchy and draws the energy to live. She becomes a real womanand leads a new life. Frazier does not only affirm the equal status of nature and human, but alsogives positive value to the equality between women and men. All the women in the novel areindependent and are with motherly love. It is those women who help co-protagonist Inman getreborn. Protagonists’ bonding with other races reflects Frazier’s desire for racial harmony.Frazier’s pursuit of equality between men and women, harmonious coexistence of human withnature and different races and racial equality, has instructive significance on building aharmonious society and world.