The Ecofeminism of Val Plumwood as Manifested in Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres, Willa Cather’s A Lost Lady, and Ernest Callenbach’s Ecotopia

Abstract

This thesis tackles the theory of ecofeminism (ecological feminism) and how the oppression of women and nature are usually interconnected. The ecocritic Val Plumwood argues that the domination that falls on women and nature is due to the dualism and the rationalism, which characterize the patriarchal system of subjugation. Thus, equality is not accomplished unless humans reconceptualize their relationship with nature and resituate themselves in the universe as parallel to the natural world. The theoretical framework is applied to three contemporary novels: Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres, and Willa Cather’s A Lost Lady. These two novels convey the mutual suffering of nature and women in an attempt to depict the severe crises that happen due to human arrogance. By contrast, Ernest Callenbach’s Ecotopia is the best illustration of equality and human reconciliation to nature.