From Voicelessness To Voice:an Ecofeminist Analysis Of “the Other” In Between The Acts

Virginia Woolf is an outstanding British female writer,whose works cover many genres including fiction,poetry,literary criticism and stream of consciousness novel.Between the Acts,although as the swan song of Virginia Woolf,filled with creativity and literary value,does not receive sufficient attention from the critical field.The novel is set on the eve of the second World War and portrays the country life of England in the 20 th century.This thesis combines the theory of ecofeminism to analyze Woolf’s last work,Between the Acts.First,it focuses on the oppression of women and nature by patriarchy,which makes them have no right to voice and are reduced to “the other”.Then,it focuses on the radical rebellion of women and nature.Women’s rebellion is shown in emphasizing women’s role in England’s history and in the realistic life where women represented by Isa and Lucy fight against man’s domination.Nature’s rebellion is shown by the ecological and existential crisis it brings to human.However,Woolf argues for androgyny and opposes radical feminism,which is reflected in many of her works including the novel Between the Acts.So finally,it focuses on the harmony between different genders and different species.And in this process,women and nature play important roles in human’s life and activity.The thesis discusses the changes of women and nature from voicelessness to have the equal right to voice with a hope to reach a deeper understanding of Woolf’s Ecofeminist thoughts and demonstrate its permanent charm.