Ecofeminist Connotations In Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping

Marilynne Robinson(1943-) is considered as one of the most famous American novelists and essayists. Her works are not as many as that of other prolific American writers in contemporary times. The publication of Housekeeping(1980), Robinson’s first novel, wins a good reputation for Robinson in the field of American literature. And her successive works, whether novels or essays, have a great influence on the development of the international literature, bringing her many honors. The themes of her works cover the issues of religious beliefs, environmental protection, philosophy, democracy and freedom, and so on.Marilynne Robinson was born in Idaho, a state with a vast geographic area and beautiful scenery. This special living environment has a great impact on the forming of Robinson’s unique view on nature. Raised in a pious Christian family and immersed in the classic literary works, she is deeply influenced by the view on nature in the Bible and attracted by the works of these transcendentalist writers including Emerson and Thoreau, which contributes a lot to the forming of her view on nature. Robinson leads a secluded life without a negative attitude. She has raised her children on her own after divorce, and she never stops her enthusiasm for writing. Her characters in the novel share a similar unique view on nature, as well as her spirit of toughness. And this thesis is intended to study Robinson’s ecological concerns and feminist consciousness in Housekeeping in detail.This thesis is composed of three parts: the introduction, body part and conclusion.The first part is the introduction. It mainly introduces Marilynne Robinson’s living experience, main works and the characteristics of her writing. It also introduces the main content of the novel Housekeeping, and summarizes the research review about it both at home and abroad. Finally, it points out the research purpose and significance of this thesis.The second part is the body part including four chapters. Chapter One traces the origin and the development of ecofeminism, as well as the challenges it is facing. It also introduces Marilynne Robinson’s ecofeminist concerns.Chapter Two analyzes the beautiful scenery in a secluded town and presents a way of natural living led by the Fosters in this secluded town, which highlights their love for nature and interdependent relationship with nature. The main character, Sylvie, keeps a natural contact with nature. Her eccentric way of housekeeping blurs the boundary between human world and nature, which indicates women’s intimate relationship with nature.Chapter Three analyzes the Fosters’ three generations’ spiritual growth, and represents the relation between women’s spiritual growth and nature in Housekeeping. Abandoning the patriarchal bondage, women walk out of the house and step into nature, seeking strength from the natural world, and finally achieving their fulfillment of self-identity.Chapter Four focuses on women’s pursuit in their spiritual growth in Housekeeping. Sylvie’s respect for Lucille’s choice of a stale life represents women’s nature of tolerance, while her choice of a wandering life with Ruth is a forceful resistance against the patriarchal authorities’ domination, which reveals their aspiration for equality and freedom. Sylvie and Ruth’s wandering life makes them keep a natural contact with nature and a harmonious relation with other living beings, which inspires modern women who want to find a new way of living.The last part is the conclusion. It highlights the importance of women’s spiritual growth in nature. Through the analysis of Ruth and Lucille’s living experience under the care of aunt Sylvie, this thesis highlights that nature plays an important role in the awakening of their feminist consciousness and the attainment of self-identity. Their experiences inspire readers: to realize the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, and a healthy relationship between men and women, the anthropocentric thinking, class depression and gender prejudice which are deeply seated in people’s mind must be deconstructed. And their choices have implication for modern women that there is no definitely correct way of living, and they should make their own decisions about the way of living.