This paper applies ecofeminism ideas to the interpretation of Tess of the D’Urbervilles through analyzing the novel, showing the relationship between nature and women and men’s oppression to women and ambition to control and correct nature in the male－dominated society. Tess of the D’Urbervilles has always been regarded as a story illustrating human beings transcendental pursuit for perfection. Yet this symbolic reading is based on the blind acceptance of the patriarchal logic of body dualism. This paper attempts to interpret Tess of the D’Urbervilles from Ecofeminists point of view by analyzing the main characters in order to gain some new understands of the classical.
II. The Theory of Ecofeminism
Ecofeminism theory originates from feminism and ecocriticism, which believes that there is a powerful affinity between nature and women.
2.1 The Definition of Ecofeminism
Ecofeminism is reflects that women will bring the ecological revolution for ensuring human being to continue to live on the earth. Ecofeminism puts emphasis on the connection between the patriarchal suppression of women and the human subordination of nature. Namely, ecofeminism impregnates the insights of feminism and ecology movement. As an Ecofeminist once advocated that ecofeminism connects bioregional democracy or eco-anarchism with an intense ideal of feminism. “In some tendencies, typically its declares emphasize moving back to small eco-villages of 100 to 400 people, which studies in anthropology argue historically from the most stable and prevalent type of human society” (Gruen 95). 从生态女性主义角度看《德伯家的苔丝》(2):http://www.751com.cn/yingyu/lunwen_18735.html