| George Eliot is one of the greatest female writers in the Victorian Age.The Mill on the Floss,the typical work of George Eliot,occupies an important position in western literature.In the novel,George Eliot elaborately presented the social context of the Victorian Age with focusing on the themes of the plight that women faced in the patriarchal society,the destruction of nature brought by the ongoing industrialization and the social inequalities resulted from social prosperity and changes.This thesis is an attempt to interpret these themes from the perspective of ecofeminism.The ecofeminist interpretation of the themes is mainly consist of the parts as follows:Firstly,exploring the inequalities and oppression at the natural,social,and spiritual levels resulted from the patriarchal ideology and the ongoing industrialization.Natural environment and pastoral life of the countryside were destroyed by the male-dominated industrialization;women were oppressed and bound by the patriarchal ideology;people were getting alienated and indifferent due to the social utilitarianism.Secondly,to show the intimate relationship between Maggie and nature through the depictions of Maggie’s life and the social background.Both women and nature are tenacious as well as tolerant and they shared similarities in experiences and fate.Lastly,to show George Eliot’s pursuit of establishing a harmonious relationship between human beings and nature,between women and men through the ecofeminist interpretation of the end of the novel.Through the ecofeminist interpretation of the themes,George Eliot’s criticism on patriarchy,her consideration towards the relationship between human beings and nature as well as her hope of establishing the harmonious and interdependent relationship between women and men,between human beings and nature could be reflected.The viewpoints ofGeorge Eliot are positive and progressive,which have enlightening significance to the development of contemporary society. |
