Abstract: John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath is widely interpreted as a fiction reflecting the social problems in a certain period of American history, and is called an epic of the United States during the Great Depression. Based on eco-feminist theory, this essay gives a detailed analysis of the ecofeminist thought revealed in the novel, and digs into the causes of Steinbeck’s eco-feministic ideas, I the hope that eco-feminist thought may provide some solutions to the environmental and social problems that modern people now face.
Key words: The Grapes of Wrath; John Steinbeck; Eco-feminism
Contents
Abstract
摘要
1. Introduction-1
1.1 Brief Introduction to John Steinbeck-1
1.2 Literature Review of The Grapes of Wrath-3
2. Brief Introduction to Eco-feminism-4
3. Eco-feminism Revealed in The Grapes of Wrath-6
3.1 Inherent Relationship between Women and Nature-7
3.1.1 Caring and Sympathetic Ma Joad-7
3.1.2 Rose of Sharon as Mother Earth-11
3.2 Man’s Exploitation of the Earth-14
3.3 Feministic Solutions to Eco-crisis-15
4. Causes of Steinbeck’s Eco-feministic Ideas in His Novel-18
4.1 His Childhood in Salinas-18
4.2 The Influence of Friends and Women in His Life-19
5. Conclusion-21
References-23
