《蜜蜂秘密生活》生态女性主义的研究 55页

分类号：I106学校单位代码：10446硕士学位论文论文题目：AnEcofeministStudyofTheSecretLifeofBees《蜜蜂的秘密生活》的生态女性主义研究研究生姓名：赵学婧学科、专业：英语语言文学研究方向：英美文学导师姓名、职称：孙华祥教授论文完成时间：2012年4月 AnEcofeministStudyofTheSecretLifeofBeesAThesisSubmittedtoCollegeofForeignLanguagesQufuNormalUniversityInPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsFortheDegreeofMasterofArtsByZhaoXuejingUndertheSupervisionofProfessorSunHuaxiangApril2012 曲阜师范大学研究生学位论文原创性说明（根据学位论文类型相应地在“□”划“√”）本人郑重声明：此处所提交的博士□/硕士□论文《<蜜蜂的秘密生活>的生态女性主义研究》，是本人在导师指导下，在曲阜师范大学攻读博士□/硕士□学位期间独立进行研究工作所取得的成果。论文中除注明部分外不包含他人已经发表或撰写的研究成果。对本文的研究工作做出重要贡献的个人和集体，均已在文中以明确的方式注明。本声明的法律结果将完全由本人承担。作者签名：日期：曲阜师范大学研究生学位论文使用授权书（根据学位论文类型相应地在“□”划“√”）《<蜜蜂的秘密生活>的生态女性主义研究》系本人在曲阜师范大学攻读博士□/硕士□学位期间，在导师指导下完成的博士□/硕士□学位论文。本论文的研究成果归曲阜师范大学所有，本论文的研究内容不得以其他单位的名义发表。本人完全了解曲阜师范大学关于保存、使用学位论文的规定，同意学校保留并向有关部门送交论文的复印件和电子版本，允许论文被查阅和借阅。本人授权曲阜师范大学，可以采用影印或其他复制手段保存论文，可以公开发表论文的全部或部分内容。作者签名：日期：导师签名：日期： AbstractTheSecretLifeofBeesisabest-sellerofAfricanAmericanfemalewriterSueMonkKiddwhichhasbeengettingmoreattentionfromreadersandscholarssinceitspublicationin2002.ThenovelmaintaineditspositiononNewYorkTimesbest-sellerlistfortwoandahalfyearsandwonmanyawards.Thestoryisaclassicecofeministnoveloffemalecomingofagewhichisaboutawhitegirl,Lilywhogrowstomaturityandbecomeanintelligent,lovedandlovingwomanthroughajourneyofsearchingforlovebyreturningtonature.Ecofeminismisbornfromtheunionofecologicalthinkingandfeministwhichexplorestheenvironmentalconsciousness,dealingwithproblemsreflectedinliteratureabouttheexploitationandoppressionofwomenandnature,andalsoracismandothersocialinequalities.Itexplorestheinterconnectionbetweensexismandthedominationofnature,workingagainsttheinterconnectedoppressionsofgender,nature,raceandothervulnerablegroups.Ecofemninistsadvocateaharmoniousandinterdependentrelationshipbetweenmanandman,manandnature.ThisthesisattemptstointerpretTheSecretLifeofBeesfromtheperspectiveofecofeminismbyanalyzingthecharacterizationandthesignificanceofthemesandimageriesofthenoveltoexploreecofeministconsciousnessinthenovel.Firstofall,onthepartofcharacterization,thecharactersinthenovelmainlyincludetheprotagonistLilyandherfamilyandfriends.LilyandhermotherDeborah,alsohernannyRosaleenandBoatwrightsistersrepresentthegreatfemalecharactersthatbravelyresisttheoppressionofpatriarchy.Thenovelisteulogizesagroupofwomenimageswhoareclosetoandlovenaturedeeply,praisingthestrongpoweroffemalecommunityandtheirunityanduniversalfraternityandthespiritofresistingtheoppressionofpatriarchy.Itcreatesmalecharactersfromprosandconsinthenovel.T.RayastherepresentativeofpatriarchyisautocraticandbrutalwhosuppresseshiswifeanddaughterthatleadtoDeborah‟sdeathandmakeLilyrunawayfromhome.WhilediligentZachandhonestNeilwhoembodytheperfectmalecharactersarethepositivefiguresthatKiddattemptstocreate.Secondly,inrespectoftheme,Kiddcriticizestheexploitationanddestructionofnaturebywhitepeopleandthecruelracism.Setin1960s‟America,thenovelmentionsthehistoriceventsoftheinventionofatomicbomb,ApolloProgramandVietnamWar.Thedevelopmentoftechnologyandeconomybringsaboutthegreatecocrisisandposementalanxietyandpanictohumankind.TheCivilRightActssetsfireonracists‟hatredandoutragetoblackpeople.ThenovelclarifiesthatnatureisthesourceofloveandtheimportanceofreturningtonaturetoconstructspiritualhomethroughLily‟sjourneyofsearchingforlove.Lily‟slivinginharmonywiththeblacksistersmakesclearthattheKidd‟secofeministconsciousnessofworkingagainsti thepatriarchalsystemandracediscriminationandestablishingaharmoniousrelationshipbetweenmanandman,manandnature.Inaddition,thisthesisanalyzesthemetaphorsoftheimageriesinthenovel.“Moon”and“theBlackMary”whichtakeobviousfemininetraitsembodytheecofeministstanceofthenovel.ThesecretlifeofbeesissimilartothesecretlifeofLilywhichsuggeststhatthehumansocietyislikeabeefarm.TheWailingWallismadebyAugustbyimitatingtheJewishwhichrecordsthesufferingsofMayandthesufferingsofblackpeoplebeingoppressedandexploited.Tosumup,TheSecretLifeofBeesasaclassicecofeministnovelwithabundantecofeministthinkingexpressesKidd‟swishofeliminatinggenderdiscriminationandracism,andconstructingaharmonioushomeland.Thethesiscontainssixparts:ChapterOneintroducesthelifeandcareerexperiencesoftheauthorSueMonkKidd,andsummarizesthemainplotofTheSecretLifeofBeesandthebackgroundofthestudy,theframeworkofthethesis.ChapterTwogivesabriefliteraturereviewonecofeminism:thedevelopmentandbasicviewpointsofthetheory,ecofeminismasliterarycriticismanddoresearchesonTheSecretLifeofBeesathomeandabroad.ChapterThreestartswiththeanalysisofcharacterizationtopraisetheloveofnaturebywomenandtheirspiritforfreedom,andanalyzesthemalecharactersprosandcons.ChapterFourstartsonthemetoexposetheexploitationofnatureandtheoppressionofwomenbymeninpatriarchalsocietyandcriticizethedestructionofnaturebyindustryandtechnologyandthedeceptivenessofwhitepeopleandthecrueltyofracism.ChapterFiveinterpretsthemetaphorsofimageriestoexposetheecofeministawarenessinthenovel.ChapterSixconcludestheubiquitousecofeministconsciousnessinthenovel.Lily,whobravelysaysnotopatriarchy,runsawayfromhomefromhometosearchforlove.Withthehelpofherblackfriendsandsurroundedbymothernature,Lilylaysdowntheresentmenttohercruelfatherandrecoversfromguiltofkillinghermother,maturingintoayoungwoman.TheblackwomenwhosupportandcareaboutLilyhelphertorealizethestrongpowerofthefemalecommunity.Theunfairtreatmentstheblackpeoplehavesufferedinthenovelrevealthecrueltyofracism,andtheirintelligenceandgoodnesssubverttheracediscrimination.WithLily‟sstory,theauthorillustratesherwishtoabolishthepatriarchy,eliminategenderdiscriminationandracism,advocatingreturningtonatureandreconstructthespiritualhomeland.KeyWords:SueMonkKidd;TheSecretLifeofBees;ecofeminism;characterization;theme;imageryii 摘要《蜜蜂的秘密生活》是非裔美籍女作家苏·蒙克·基德的一部畅销作品，自2002年出版以来就受到读者的空前欢迎并逐渐受到广大学者的关注，曾占据《纽约时报》畅销书榜两年多并获得多项大奖。它是一部以成长为题材的生态女性主义经典作品，讲述了白人女孩莉莉的成长故事，通过回归自然的寻爱之旅，莉莉最终走向成熟，完成心灵的蜕变，学会爱与被爱，成长为一名真正意义上的女性。生态女性主义将生态思想与女性主义相结合，试图在生态批评的基础上运用女性主义批评理论来探讨文学作品中所反映的环境意识，人与自然、男人与女人之间剥削与压迫的问题以及包括种族歧视等的一切社会不平等问题。它尝试寻求性别歧视与统治自然之间存在的特殊关系，反对在父权制与二元论思维的统治下对女性、自然和其他种族等弱势群体的压迫，倡导建立一种人与人、人与自然之间平等和谐、互相依存的关系。本论文试图从生态女性主义批评的角度研究《蜜蜂的秘密生活》，通过分析小说中典型人物形象的塑造，解读主题以及文本中主要意象的意义，探索和研究小说中的生态女性主义意识。首先，就人物塑造而言，小说中的人物主要包括主人公莉莉以及在她的寻爱之旅中围绕在她身边的亲人和朋友。莉莉、黛博拉、罗瑟琳以及黑人三姐妹代表反抗父权制压迫的强大的女性形象，小说作者通过讴歌这样一群热爱自然，亲近自然的伟大女性形象，赞扬了女性力量的强大以及她们的团结与博爱和不畏强权，面对压迫，积极反抗的精神。同时小说还从正反两方面刻画了两种男性形象，其中莉莉的父亲狄瑞作为父权制的典型代表，专制、暴虐，对妻女的压制导致了妻子的死亡与女儿的离家出走，而黑人扎克和尼尔则是基德努力彰显的正面形象，勤恳踏实的扎克和正直而又执着专一的尼尔体现了一种完美理想的男性形象，他们使读者看到了父权制文化得以终结的希望。其次，就小说主题而言，基德批判了白人统治者对自然的掠夺与破坏以及残酷的种族主义。小说以19世纪60年代的美国为背景，提到了核武器的发明以及登月计划、越南战争等历史事件，科技与经济发展的同时也带来了严重的生态危机，并给人类心理带来了极度的焦虑与恐慌。而民权法案的签署却激起种族主义者的仇恨情绪并对黑人更加肆意地迫害。同时小说通过莉莉的回归自然的寻爱之旅阐明了自然是爱的源泉，回归自然，重建精神家园的重要性，而莉莉与黑人姐妹的友好相处则表达了作者反对父权专制和种族歧视，实现人与人，人与自然和谐相处的生态女性主义思想。另外，本论文还对作品中的主要意象进行分析。带有明显女性特质的“月亮”和“黑圣母”体现了小说的女性主义立场，蜜蜂的秘密生活象征着主人公莉莉自己的秘密生活，也暗示了整个人类社会就像一个养蜂场。哭墙是八月模仿犹太人为五月建立的，它记载了五月切身感受到的苦难，也记录了黑人受压迫、受奴役的苦难。综上所述，《蜜蜂的秘密生活》作为一部经典的生态女性主义作品，蕴含丰富的生态女性主义意识，同时也表达了基德反对性别歧视与种族压迫，重建和谐美好家园的美好愿望。iii 论文共分为六个部分：第一章引言介绍了作者苏·蒙克·基德的生平及创作历程，并概括了小说的主要故事情节和研究背景、论文框架。第二章文献回顾，梳理了生态女性主义的发展过程，基本观点和生态女性主义作为文学批评的研究方法，并对国内外就小说进行的研究展开综述。第三章从人物塑造入手，赞扬女性对自然的热爱，以及她们互相关爱，努力争取自由的精神，并对两种男性形象的塑造进行分析。第四章从小说的主题入手，批判了人类中心主义对自然的剥削以及工业文明与科技发展对大自然的破坏，揭露父权制文化下男性对自然的剥削与掠夺和对女性的压迫与摧残以及白人的虚伪和种族主义势力的残忍。第五章分析小说中经常出现的意象，揭示作品蕴含的生态女性主义意识。第六章为研究结论，总结了文本中无处不在的生态女性主义意识。主人公莉莉勇敢地对父权制说不，踏上离家出走的寻爱之旅，在黑人朋友的帮助下，在大自然的怀抱中得以安静的疗伤，放下对母亲的负疚和对父亲的憎恨，心灵得到救赎，成长为一名真正的女性。给予莉莉支持与关爱的黑人女性们，展示了女性力量的强大，小说中黑人遭受的不公平待遇正是对种族主义的控诉，而他们的智慧与善良颠覆了种族主义对黑人的偏见。作者借莉莉的成长历程阐释了其渴望废除父权制，消除性别歧视与种族压迫，回归自然，还地球生态之美，重建精神家园的生态女性主义思想。关键词：苏·蒙克·基德；《蜜蜂的秘密生活》；生态女性主义；人物塑造；主题；意象iv ContentsAbstract...................................................................................................................................i摘要.........................................................................................................................................iiiContents..................................................................................................................................vChapterOneIntroduction................................................................................................11.1TheBackgroundoftheStudy.........................................................................................11.2SueMonkKiddandHerWorks......................................................................................21.3TheSecretLifeofBees...................................................................................................31.4TheStructureoftheThesis.............................................................................................5ChapterTwoLiteratureReview......................................................................................72.1ResearchesonEcofeminism...........................................................................................72.1.1TheDevelopmentofEcofeminism.......................................................................72.1.2BasicViewpointsofEcofeminism......................................................................102.1.3EcofeminismasLiteraryCriticism.....................................................................122.2ResearchesonTheSecretLifeofBees.....................................................................122.3Summary.....................................................................................................................15ChapterThreeEcofeministCharacterizationinTheSecretLifeofBees...163.1LilyOwens................................................................................................................163.2RosaleenDaise..........................................................................................................173.3BoatwrightSisters.....................................................................................................183.4DeborahOwens.........................................................................................................203.5TerrenceRayOwens.................................................................................................213.6ZacharyTaylorandNeil...........................................................................................223.7Summery....................................................................................................................23ChapterFourEcofeministThemesofTheSecretLifeofBees..............................254.1ExploitationandOppression....................................................................................254.1.1TheExploitationofNaturebyHuman................................................................254.1.2TheOppressionofWomenbyMen.....................................................................274.2RaceRelationships.......................................................................................................294.2.1TheIrrationalityofRacism.............................................................................294.2.2TheHarmoniousRaceRelationships.............................................................314.3AJourneyofSearchingforLove.................................................................................324.4Summary....................................................................................................................33ChapterFiveEcofeministMetaphorsofImageriesinTheSecretLifeofBees....35v 5.1TheSecretLifeofBees............................................................................................355.2TheBlackMary.........................................................................................................375.3TheMoonandtheWailingWall..............................................................................385.4Summary....................................................................................................................38ChapterSixConclusion...................................................................................................39Bibliography........................................................................................................................41在校期间的研究成果及发表的学术论文....................................................................44Acknowledgements............................................................................................................45vi ChapterOneIntroductionEcofeminismisthecombinationoffeminismandenvironmentalismwhichexploretheinterconnectionbetweensexism,thedominationofnature,racismandothersocialinequalities.Asaclassicecofeministnovel,TheSecretLifeofBeespresentspeoplethewayhowtoconstructaharmoniousrelationshipbetweenhumanandnature,menandwomen.Thischapterintroducesthebackgroundofthestudy,thelifeexperiencesoftheauthorandtheplotofthenovel,andthestructureofthisthesis.1.1TheBackgroundoftheStudyHumanbeingshavebeguntocontrolandplunderthenaturesincethe18thcenturywhentheycameintoindustrialcivilizationtimes.Industrialproductswereproducedbycontrollingandreconstructingthenaturethroughscienceandtechnology.Thedevelopmentofindustrialcivilizationhadcausedgreatdamagetoecologicalenvironment,andenvironmentpollutionbecomessocialproblem.Ecologicalproblemsstartedtoaffecteveryaspectofhumanlife.Women‟sliberation,environment,anddevelopmenthavebecomethethreeproblemsoftheworldtoday.Whileecologicalfeminismprovidesanewperspectivetosolvetheseproblemsbycombiningfeminismandecologism.Itholdstheviewthatenvironmentalprotection,women"sliberationandhumans‟striveforequalityandlibertyarenotisolated.Weshouldputtheseproblemstogether,suchasthefemaleliberation,environmentalprotection,racialdiscriminationandmanyothersocialproblems,toeasetheecologicalcrisis.Ecofeminismisakindofthoughtdevelopedinthefaceofthecurrentecologicalcrisis.Itstudiestherelationshipsbetweenwomenandnature,humanandnature,evenman-relationshipfromthefeminineperspective.Itrevealsacertainnaturalconnectionbetweenthenatureandwomen.Duringthe1990s,thereappearedliteraryworksbasedonecologicalfeministcriticismtheorytocriticizesocialproblems,whichaddednewthinkingforliterarycriticism.Ecologicalfeministliterarycriticismmakes“nature”and“gender”astheirtwocriticaldimensions,examiningthereproductionofnatureandwomeninliteratureworks.TheSecretLifeofBees,aclassicecofeministnovelofcomingofage,isaNewYorkTimesbestseller.ItisnominatedfortheOrangeBroadbandPrizeforFictionandwasadaptedintoafilmin2008byGinaPrinceBythewood.Itsauthor,SueMonkKidd,isanAfrican-Americanwriterwhooncewonmanyliteraryawards.ShewontheQuillAwardswithJ.K.RowlingandwasnominatedforIMPACin2006.TheSecretLifeofBeesreflectstheharmoniousrelationshipbetweennatureandman.Itisaboutagirl,namedLilywhoisunbearablewithhercruelfatherafterhermother‟sdeathandsherunsawaytosearchforanewlife.Beingcompaniedbyher1 blacknanny,Rosaleen,shefindsherlongingmotherlyloveinanunexpectedplace—thethreeblacksisters‟pinkhouse.Thenovelwasoriginallypublishedin2002,andhassincesoldmorethan5millioncopiesandhasbeenpublishedin35countries.ItalsomaintaineditspositionontheNewYorkTimesbestsellerlistfortwoandahalfyears.In2004,itwasnamedthe“BookSensePaperbackoftheYear”.ItwasalsooneofGoodMorningAmerica’s“Read-This”Bookclubpicks,andwasnominatedfortheOrangePrizeinEngland.TheadaptedmoviewonthePeople‟sChoiceandtheNAACPImageAwardsforbestpicturein2009.Thesecretlifeofbeesisatypicalecologicalfeministwork,whichcontainsprofoundecologicalfeministconsciousnessanditgivesavividdescriptionof1960s‟Americawhentheindustrializationandtechnicalcompetitionmadetheenvironmentpollutedandpeoplelivedinaworldoflackofsecuritybecauseofecocrisis,warandracism.Theauthoradvocateshumanbeingsreturningtonatureandcreatingafree,equalandharmonioushome.ThisthesisattemptstointerpretTheSecretLifeofBeesfromtheperspectiveofecofeminismbyanalyzingtherelationshipofman-natureandmanandman,exploringtheoppressionofwomenandnatureinthepatriarchalsocietybycriticizingthedestructionofnaturebyindustryandtechnology,exposingthedeceptivenessofwhitepeopleandthecrueltyofracism.1.2SueMonkKiddandHerWorksSueMonkKidd,afamousAfricanAmericanwriter,wasbornonAugust12,1948inSylvester,asmalltowninsouthwestGeorgiawhereherfamilyhadlivedfortwocenturies.ThestoriesherfathermadeforherasachildandtheencouragementofherEnglishteachersfueledherdesiretobecomeawriter,yetheruncertaintyaboutherfutureasawriter,combinedwiththe“culturalclimateoftheSouth”in1966,madehertopursueanursingcareerinstead.KiddmajoredinnursingatTexasChristianUniversityandgraduatedin1970withaB.S.degreeandshespentthenextdecadeworkingasaregisterednurseandcollegenursinginstructorwhileshemetandmarriedherhusband,SanfordSandyKidd,withwhomshehadtwochildren,BobandAnn.KiddandherfamilylivedinSouthCarolinawhereherhusbandtaughtatasmallliberalartscollegewhenshedecidedtoenrollinwritingclasses.Shewantedtowritefiction,butshebeganhercareerasanonfictionwriter,whobecameacontributingeditoratGuideposts,andshepublishednumerousarticlesinGuidepostsMagazineandinvariousjournalsandnewspapers.ShecitesThoureau‟sWaldenandKateChopin‟sTheAwakeningasearlyinfluencesthatwouldeventuallyleadtoawritingcareerrootedinspirituality.MeanwhilethewritingsofThomasMertonandC.G.Jung,whoseworkshecitesalsohadadeepimpactuponherspirituallifeandwriting.Herfirsttwobooks,God’sJoyfulSurprise(1988)andWhentheHeartWaits(1990),2 werespiritualmemoirsdepictingherintroductiontocontemplativeChristianspiritualityandhersubsequentspiritualtransformation.Inherforties,Kiddturnedherattentiontoastudyoffeministspirituality,TheDanceoftheDissidentDaughter(1996),recountedherspiritualjourneywhichchroniclesherpathto“feministenlightenment.”Receivingsomanyawardsforhernonfictionpieces,Kiddstillwantedtowritefiction.Soshetookagraduatewritingcourseandattendingvariouswriters‟conferences.Soonshegainedseveralawardsforhershortfiction,whichgavehertheconfidencethatsheneededtobeginwritingherfirstnovel,TheSecretLifeofBees,in1997whichwaspublishedin2002bythePenguinGroup.Sheisbestknownforthisnovelinwhichshetellsacoming-of-agestorysetin1964ofafourteenyearoldgirl,Lily,amodernclassicthatspentovertwoyearsontheNewYorkTimesbestsellerlist.Ithasbeenpublishedin35countries,andisnowtaughtincollegeandhighschoolclassrooms.In2005,Kidd‟secondnovel,TheMermaidChair,tellsthestoryofamiddle-agedmarriedwomanwhofallsinlovewithaBenedictinemonkandfindsherselftornbetweenherhusbandandhersoulmate,unsureifthemythicalpowerofthemermaidchairisthecause.LikeTheSecretLifeofBees,TheMermaidChairusesitsfemaleprotagonisttoexplorespiritualthemes.TheMermaidChairwasalsoalong-timebestsellerandawardwinner.In2006,acollectionofKidd‟searlyinspirationalwritingsnamedFirstlightswasreleasedbyGuidepostsBooksin2006andPenguinin2007whichwasontheNewYorkTimesextendedbestsellerlist.Asoflate2008thereweremorethan200,000copiesinprint.Kiddhasbeenawardednumerousawardsforbothhernonfictionandherfiction,includingthe2004BookSenseBookoftheYearinpaperbackforTheSecretLifeofBees.ShewontheQuillAwardswithJ.K.RowlingandwasnominatedforIMPACin2006.SheisontheboardofadvisorsforPoets&Writers,Inc.,andsheistheWriterinResidenceatTheSophiaInstituteinSouthCarolina.ShecurrentlyresidesnearCharleston,SouthCarolina,withherhusbandandtheirblacklab,Lily.1.3TheSecretLifeofBeesThenovelissetinSylvan,asmalltownofSouthCarolinain1964whichtellsastoryofcoming-of-ageaboutafourteen-yearoldgirl,LilyOwens.WhileLilywasfouryearsold,sheaccidentlyshothermother,DeborahFontanel,whenherparentswerefighting.Afterhermother‟sdeath,LilyliveswithherabusivefatherT.Raywhoalwaysneglectsherandmakesherkneelongritstopunishherwhenshedoessomethingwrong.Theirblackmaid,Rosaleen,istheonlyonewhocaresLilyandactsasasurrogatemotherforher.3 1964isagreatyearinAmerica,suchastheCivilRightsActisputintofact.LilyaccompaniesRosaleentoregistertovote.Ontheirwaytotown,theymeetthreeracistsandtheyharassRosaleenwhopoursherspitonthefootofoneofthem.TheybeatRosaleenandthrowherintojail.T.RaytakesLilybackangrilyandleavesRosaleenaloneinthejail.LilypacksupandescapeswithRosaleenfromthehospitalwhereherinjurieswerebeingtreated.WiththecluehermotherleftonthebackofapictureofblackMary,theysetouttoTiburon.WhenLilybuysfoodinashop,sherecognizesthepictureofblackMaryonahoneyjarasalogowhichisthesameastheoneshehas.Shegetsalineontheplacewherethehoneyismade.Thentheygettothepinkhousewherethehoneymakerslive.Theymeetthebeemakersthere,theAfricanAmericanBoatwrightsistersorcalendarsisters:August,JuneandMay.Lilymakesupafalsestoryaboutherlifeexperiencetogainsympathyfromthesisters.Augusttakestheminandassignthemwork.RosaleenstaysandhelpsMayinthekitchen,whileLilybeginsherlifeasabeekeeper.SoonLilyandRosaleenbecomemembersofthecommunitycenteredaroundthepinkhouse:agroupofAfricanAmericans,mostlywomen,whoarecalled“DaughtersofMary”andtheyliketoworshipastatueofablackMary.LilymeetsAugust‟sgodson，ZachTaylor,ahandsome,intelligentAfricanAmericanboywhobecomesagoodfriendofLily.Theylearntocareforbeesandhelponthefarmtogether.Theyoftentalkabouttheirdreamsandencourageeachother.Gradually,akindofromanticfeelingsdevelopsbetweenthemwhichrunscountertothesocialmoralitycriterionthen.Oneday,LilyfindthatMayisonthegroundwithmarshmallowsandgrahamcrackers，awayhermothereverusedforgettingridofroachesthatherfathertoldher.Sheaccidentlygetstheinformationofhermother,DeborahFontanel,stayinginthepinkhousefromMay.Sheissurprisedandwantstoknowmoreabouthermother,sosheintendstotellthetruthtoAugust.OnherwaytotalktoAugust,shedecidesinsteadtogowithZachintotowntobuypiecesforthecar.Unfortunately,Zach‟sfriendassaultsawhitemanandheisinvolvedintothetroubleandtheyarealltakentojail.Withthehelpofalawyer,Clayton,afriendoftheBoatwright‟s,theytrytosaveZachandtheyhidethenewsfromtheirsensitivesister,May,whoalwayscrieswhenshehearsbadnews.ButMayfindsoutthetruthfromZach‟smotherandshecommitssuicidebydrowningherselfintheriver.Atlast,Zach‟sfriendconfessesandheisletoutofthejail.AfterMaryDay,LilyfindsachancetotalktoAugust,andshetellsthetruthaboutheridentityandhermother.Augustadmitsthatshehasalreadyknowneverything.ShetellsLilyallsheknowsaboutDeborahandgivessomemementosofhermother‟stoLily.Lilylearnsthathermothereverabandonedherbutonthedayhermotherdied,Deborahreturnedhometotakeher.Lilyfeelsupsetforhermother‟sdesertingbutsherecoversfromhergriefandforgiveshermotherabandoningherandthenherfatherT.Rayarrivesatthepinkhouse.Heissoangrythat4 heconfusesLilywithDeborah.HewantstotakeLilybackbutwiththehelpofthedaughtersofMary,AugustconvincesT.RaytoletLilystaywiththemandshepromisesthattheywilltakecareofher.AsT.Rayleaves,Lilyaskshimwhethershekilledhermother.Headmitsthatshedid,butshedidn‟tmeanto.LilyrealizesthatnomatterDeborahorT.Ray,evenherself,isaflawedpersonsosheforgiveshermotherabandoningherandherfather‟sabuse,mostimportant,sheforgivesherselfforshootinghermothertodeath.Attheendofthenovel,Lilyfindsthatshehasgainedmoremothersthanothergirlsandtheyarehermoon.Sheliveshappilywithhernewfamilyandshedevelopsintoalovedandlovingperson.Thisnovelisastoryofcoming-of-age,ofmotherlovelostandfound.Throughthisnovel,theauthordemonstratesthetransformationofamotherlessgirlandthepowerofwomencommunity.Meanwhile,thisnovelisnotonlyaboutagirlwhosearchesforlovebutalsoreflectsmanyrealisticsocialproblems.Suchastheoppressionofwomenbypatriarchy,thedamageofindustrialcivilizationbroughttonature,andtheracism.1.4TheStructureoftheThesisThisthesiscontainssixpartsasfollows:ChapterOneintroducesthelifeandcareerexperiencesoftheauthorSueMonkKidd,andsummarizesthemainplotofTheSecretLifeofBeesandpreviouscriticalreviewsonthisnovel.ChapterTwoisabriefintroductionoftheEcofeminism:thedevelopmentofthetheory,theconnectionsbetweenwomenandnatureandmainschoolsofecofeministthoughts.ChapterThreetoChapterFivearemainbodyofthispaper.ChapterThreefocusonanalyzingthecharacterizationtoexposetheecofeministawarenessinthenovel.Theauthoreulogizesagroupofwomenimageswholoveandbeclosetonature,praisingtheirunityanduniversalfraternityandthespiritofrevoltingtheoppression,notfearingofthepatriarchy.Kiddbalancestheevilmanwhooppresseshiswifeanddaughter,suchasT.Raywithgoodmenwhorespectandcareaboutwomen,suchasZachandNeil.ChapterFourisaboutthethemeofthenovelwhichanalyzesthecausesoftheabsenceofLily‟smotherlylove,criticizingtheoppressionofwomenbypatriarchyandtheexploitationofnaturebyhumanbeings,clarifyingthatnatureisthesourceofloveandtheimportanceofreturningtonaturetoconstructspiritualhome.Theindependenceandgreatnationalprideoftheblackpeopleinthenoveldeconstructtheprejudiceofracism.Lily‟slivinginharmonywiththeblacksistersmakesclearthattheauthor‟secofeministawarenessofbeingagainstthepatriarchalsystemandracediscriminationandestablishingaharmoniousrelationshipofmanandman,manandnature.ChapterFivemainlyinterpretsthemetaphorsofsomeimageriesappearsinthenovel.5 “Moon”and“theBlackMary”whichtakeobviousfemininetraitsembodytheecofeministstanceofthenovel.ThesecretlifeofbeesissimilartothesecretlifeofLilywhichsuggeststhatthehumansocietyislikeabeefarm.Boththehumansocietyandthebeefarmshouldobeythesamerules:toloveandtobeloved.TheWailingWallismadebyAugustbyimitatingtheJewishwhichrecordsthesufferingsofMayandthesufferingsofblackpeoplebeingoppressedandexploited.ChapterSixisconclusionthatconcludestheubiquitousecofeministconsciousnessinthenovel.Lily,whobravelysaysnotopatriarchy,runsawayfromhomefromhometosearchforlove.Withthehelpofherblackfriendsandsurroundedbymothernature,Lilylaysdowntheresentmenttohercruelfatherandrecoversfromguiltofkillinghermother,maturingintoayoungwoman.TheblackwomenwhosupportandcareaboutLilyhelphertorealizethestrongpowerofthefemalecommunity.Theunfairtreatmentstheblackpeoplehavesufferedinthenovelrevealthecrueltyofracism,andtheirintelligenceandgoodnesssubverttheracediscrimination.WithLily‟sstory,theauthorillustratesherwishtoabolishthepatriarchy,eliminategenderdiscriminationandracism,advocatingreturningtonatureandreconstructthespiritualhomeland.6 ChapterTwoLiteratureReviewWiththedevelopmentoffeminismandecologicalmovements,ecofeminismpenetratesintootherfields,suchashistory,culture,andliterature.Asliterarycriticism,ecofeminismisappliedtostudyliteratureworkswhichcontainecofeministthoughts.Thischaptergivesasurveyofthedevelopmentandbasicviewsofecofeminismandecofeminismasliterarycriticism,includingresearchesonTheSecretLifeofBeesathomeandabroad.2.1ResearchesonEcofeminismEcofeminismisanumbrellatermwhichcontainsmulticulturalperspectivethatconnectsallkindsofsystemsofdominatingpeopleonsubordinatestatus,especiallywomenandnature.Ecofeminismisasocialandpoliticalmovementthatreferstothecombinationofecologismandfeminismwhichisoneofthefewmovementsandanalysesthatactuallyconnecttwomovements.Itregardstheoppressionofwomenandnatureasinterconnected.Ecofeministsalsoexploretheintersectionalitybetweensexism,thedominationofnature,racism,speciesism,andothercharacteristicsofsocialinequalities.2.1.1TheDevelopmentofEcofeminismEcofeminismemergesin1970swiththetwoworksLeFeminismeoulamort(1974)andEcologieFeminisme:RevolutionouMutation(1978)writtenbyFrenchscholarFrancoised‟Eaubonnewhofirstcoinedtheterm.Shethinksthatthereexistsnaturalconnectionbetweennatureandwomen,namelywomenareclosertonature.Sheisagainstallformsofdiscrimination,andhopestoestablishadiverse,complexecologicalculturebyadvocatinglove,careandfairethicalvalues.Ecofeminismisaphilosophyandmovementbornfromtheunionoffeminismandecology.Thetermwhichemphasizestheinterconnectionbetweenwomenandnaturecombinesthewomenprotectionmovementandenvironmentprotectionmovement,aimingtoimprovingsexualrelationshipsandrestoringhuman-naturerelationship.BesidesFrancoised‟Eaubonne,moreacademicwritingsariseatthehistoricmomentasthedevelopmentofecofeminismmovements.AmericansocialistRosemaryRuetherwroteherbookNewWoman/NewEarthin1975;SusanGriffinpubilishedherbookWomanandNature:TheRoaringInsideher(1978).ElizabethD.Gray‟sGreenParadiseLost(1979)allegedthat“theconnectionbetweennatureandwomenonthegenderpsychologymakesthedegradationofnature”.Thetheoreticalbasisisthetheoryofformationofhumangenderpsychology.Intraditionalfamilyeducationmode,motheristhefirstonethatchildrenloveandfearof.Duringthetransformation,thechildrenhaveakindofambivalenceofloving,worshiping7 motherandhatingmother‟srestraining.Girlsliketoseekcommonwithmotherandformthesimilargenderpsychologyandconsciousnessintheirindividualdevelopment.WhileboysliketoseekcommonwithfathersinOedipuscomplexrole.TheformationoftheirselfConsciousnessandindependentpersonalityisonthebaseofconstrainingtheattachmenttomother,evenhatred.Inresponse,whentheyareinpursuitofthetranscendenceoftheforeignenvironment,theytakenatureandwomenasthealienandthreateningbarrierandtrytocontrolthem.Graymakesclearthatthekeyofeliminatingtheaggressivegenderpsychologyistochangethetraditionalfamilyeducationmode.Parentsshouldtakethesameroleinraisingchildrenandhelpthemformhealthyandstableindividualitywhichcontributestoavoidandrocentrismandanthropocentrism.ThesewritingscriticizetheEurocentrism,thedominationofothersbypatriarchy.CarolynMerchantpublishedherwritingTheDeathofNature:Women，Ecology,andScientificRevolution(1980)whichbegantheprotestmovementforenvironmentandpeaceinwesternworldin1980s.SheredefinestherelationshipbetweenOrganictheoryandthenaturalecology:Organictheoryequatestheimageofnaturewithmotherandthewholeuniverseisaninterconnectedorganicwhole.Shealsostartedthecriticismoftraditionaldualismandthinksthatthedominationandcontrolofthenatureandwomenarethesame.AmericanpsychicecofeministCharleneSpretnakinhercoauthoredbookGreenPolitics:theGlobalPromise(1983)indicatesthatthecoreofEcologicalfeminismisthediscriminationofwesternculturetonatureandwomenandthereispotentialrelationshipbetweenthemonhistory,symbolandpolity.Thepatriarchyrepresentsasbinarythinkingmode,hierarchyofvalueandrulelogic.In1990s,ecofeministmovementsreachedtheclimax.Thefocusofecofeminisminthisperiodistocriticizewesterndevelopedcountrieswhichdependonundevelopedcountriesfornaturalresourcesandlaborforcetodominatethenewworld.VandanaShivainherbookStayingAlive:Women,EcologyandDevelopment(1989)stressedthatoneofthemissionsofecofeminismistoredefinehowsocietiesregardproductivityandactivityofbothwomenandnaturethathavemistakenlybeendeemedpassiveandbeill-used.Forexample,nomatterriversorforestsarevaluableinconditionthattheycanbeusedtopromoteeconomicdevelopment.VandanaShivaputforwardastrategytorealizesustainabledevelopmentbymakingwomenandnatureasthesourceoflifeandwealth,creatingandmaintainingthemainpoweroflife.Andlearningecologicwisdomfromwomenandnature;reconstructingaharmoniousrelationshipbetweenmanandnature,menandwomen.HilkkaPietilaandJeanneVickerscoauthoredMakingWomenMatter:theRoleoftheUnitedNations(1990)analyzedtheimportanceoftheglobalizationoffeministpoliticsintheglobalizedworld.Influencedbyenvironmentand8 developmentplenarymeeting,studiesonecofeminismincreaserapidly.RosemaryRuetherpublishedGaiaandGod:AnEcofeministTheologyofEarthHealing(1992)whichshowshowthesepatriarchalstoriesstillpermeatethecultureandsocialstructureoftheWesternworldtoday.Sheeloquentlycritiquesthesevaluesfromanecologicalandfeministpointofview,exploringhowmaledominationofwomenandofnatureareinterconnected.Arguingthatthesevaluesmustbechanged,shedevelopspotentialwaysforhealingourselvesandourplanetfromwithinexistingreligioustraditions.1993isagreatyearforecofeminismwhenplentifulworksofecofeminismpublished.SuchasJoniSeager‟sEarthFollies:ComingtoFeministTermswiththeGlobalEnvironmentalCrisisoffersafeministanalysisofthecrisis,demonstrateshowtheimplicationsandexperiencesofenvironmentaldecayaredifferentformenandwomenandrichandpoor,andcriticizesenvironmentalorganizations.ValPlumwoodpublishedFeminismandtheMasteryofNature(1994)andshelaidfoundationsforfeministecology,bringingfeministandpostcolonialtheorytobearontheproblemsofenvironmentalphilosophy.Twoofthemostimportantpoliticalmovementsofthelatetwentiethcenturyarethoseofenvironmentalismandfeminism.Inthisbook,ValPlumwoodarguesthatfeministtheoryhasanimportantopportunitytomakeamajorcontributiontothedebatesinpoliticalecologyandenvironmentalphilosophy.FeminismandtheMasteryofNatureexplainstherelationbetweenecofeminism,orecologicalfeminism,andotherfeministtheoriesincludingradicalgreentheoriessuchasdeepecology.ValPlumwoodprovidesaphilosophicallyinformedaccountoftherelationofwomenandnature,andshowshowrelatingmaledominationtothedominationofnatureisimportantandyetremainsadilemmaforwomen.AmericanfeministKarenJ.WarreninherEcofeminism(1994)criticizesthedominationofnatureandwomeninPatriarchysociety.Warrenarguesthatwomenandnaturearerecognizedas“theothers”.Sheindicatesthattheoppressionofwomenandnatureisrootedinthepatriarchalconceptualframeworkwhichmakestheconceptsofhierarchybecomeconceptsofpowerbyapplyingthedominationlogicandpeopleneglectthedifferencesbetweendifferentgroups.Warrenthinksthatthedominationlogicistherootofgenderoppressionincludingotherkindsofoppression.Dismantlinggenderoppressionisconnectedwithdismantlingotheroppressionswhichrequiresanexplanationoftheconnectionsofalltheoppressionsystems.Itisinthissense，wehavetoreconstructecofeministtheorytocoverthecontentofecologicalethics.Ecofeminismwasrecommendedbydomesticscholarssinceitsprungupinwesternworldandgotremarkableresearchachievements.Inmid1990s,ecofeminismwasintroducedtoChinesereadersbyCaoYannanandLiuBingwhointroducedthetheoriesandrepresentativesofecofeminism.GuanChunlingpublishedADiscussionofWesternEcofeminismin1996beganthedomesticecofeminismresearchwhichreviewsschoolsofecofeministthoughts;9 ChenXiaolaninNatureasthe"other"toHumanBeings:aboutContemporaryWesternEcologicalCriticism(2002)introducessomeviewsofwesternecologicalfeministliterarycritics.WeiQingqimakesasummaryonEcofeminisminhisdissertation(2003).Heintroducesthecurrentsituationandtheorybasis,criticalmethodofecofeministliterarycriticism.LuoTingandXiePenginEcofeminismandliterarycriticism(2004)giveademonstrationaboutecofeministliterarycriticism,theconnectionsofwomenandnatureandtheconstructionofliteraturecriticism.ChenMaolininhisADiscussionofEcofeministLiteraryCriticism(2006)summarizesseveralmajorecofeministcriticalmethods.Heindicatesthatthe“people”inanthropocentrismreferstosomecertainpeoplewhichtakesobviousimprintsonspeciesism,andsexism,racialdiscrimination.HuangChengzhou,WangXinpenginANewPointofViewofLiteraryCriticism——EcofeministLiteraryCriticism(2010)indicatesthattheconstructionoftheharmoniousrelationshipneedstobreakdowntheanthropocentrism.Nowecofeministliterarycriticismisgettingmoreandmorestudyandconcernasanindependentresearchcategoryfromresearchersbothhomeandabroadwhichindicatesthatecofeministliterarycriticismwillgainmorecapacityfordevelopment.SinceEcofeminismwasintroducedtoChinain1990s,scholarshavedoneresearchesfromdifferentaspectsandhavemadegreatachievements.DissertationsandmonographsaboutEcofeminismhavebeenpublishedinjournalsthatdisplaysgoodprospectofthedevelopmentofEcofeminisminChina.2.1.2BasicViewpointsofEcofeminismEcofeminismarguesthatthereareconnectionsbetweenwomenandnaturethatcomesfromtheirsharedhistoryofoppressionbypatriarchyandthepositiveidentificationofwomenwithnature.ThoughEcofeministscriticizetheviewofregardingwomenasthepassiveexploitednature;meanwhiletheyadmittheidentificationofwomenandnature.Womenandnatureareusuallymutualmetaphors.Theabilityofbreedingandfeelingofwomenmakesthemclosertonature.Thescholarsarguethatwomenandnaturehavenaturalconnectionsincreatinglife.Aswomenareonintimatetermswithnaturebytakingtheroleofbreedingandfeedingtheoffspring,theadvocatesofandrocentrismmakethedifferentmechanismbetweenmaleandfemaleasthereasontooppresswomenandnature.Womenareclassifiedintothegroupthatareshortofspirituality,passiveandcontrolledbydesireandemotionwhoshouldsubmittomenwhoarerationalandinitiative.Thereforewomenandnaturearerejectedfromthemainstreamculturetogetheranddegradedseriously.Itiscommonformentooppressthenaturalizedwomen10 togetherwiththefeminizednature.Thehatredofwomenbymenisthesametothehatredofnaturewhichareinterconnected.Someecofeministspointtothelinguisticlinksbetweenoppressionofwomenandnature,suchastheterm“rapetheland.”Termsdescribenaturealsoasfemininebyusing“she”and“motherland”.Andwomenas“wild”,“untamed‟.Nounsforanimalsareoftenusedtoexpresswomen,suchascow,fox;serpentandchickwhichiskindofgenderdiscrimination.Theinvasionofnaturebyhumanbeingsequalstothebodilyaggressionofwomenbymen,sosavingtheearthandtheliberationofwomenareequallyimportant.Ecofeminismchallengesthetraditionalphilosophicaltheoryandlogicofdomination.Ecofeministsthinkthatthereareconceptualconnectionsbetweenwomenandnatureinwesternpatriarchalsociety.Thedominationofnaturebyhumanbeingsandthedominationofwomenbymenarebasedonthesameoppressiveconceptualframeworkwhichispatriarchalwhenitmaintainsthesubordinationofwomenbymen.Theconceptualframeworkischaracterizedbyvaluehierarchy,valuedualismandlogicofdomination.Accordingtothevaluehierarchy,thehighervalueissuperiortolowervalue.Accordingtovaluedualism,thedichotomiesincludereason/emotion,mind/body,culture/nature,human/nature,andman/woman;whateverishistoricallyassociatedwithemotion,body,nature,andwomenisregardedasinferiortothatwhichisassociatedwithreason,mind,culture,andmen.Thelogicofdominationprovidestheethicallypremisethatsuperiorityjustifiessubordination.Theoppressiveandpatriarchalconceptualframeworkmaintainsandperpetuatesthedominationofwomenandnature,sotodestroytheoppressiveframeworkisimportantbothforfeminismandecologismwhichshouldcombinetosubvertthepatriarchy.TheextremeviewofecofeminismistoopposedevelopmentrepresentedbyVandanaShivawhoindicatesthattheindustrializationindevelopedcountriesiskindofpostcolonialism.InhercoauthoredbookwithMariaMiesEcofeminism(1993),sheruminatestheglobaleco-crisisandpointsoutthatthedegradationofnaturebythedevelopmentofeconomyandindustryandscientifictechnologyleadstoeco-crisis;thedegradationofwomenleadstogenderdiscrimination.Ecofeminismqueriesthewesternmodernsciencewhichbreaksupthedependenceofhumanbeingsonnature,classifyingtheworldcreationsintodifferentclasses.Thepowerstructureofwesterncultureishierarchyaccordingtowhichallindominantpositionbelongtomaleandthosebeingdominatedbelongtofemale.Ecofeminismholdscriticismtotheresultsthatthedevelopmentsofindustrializationandeconomyhavebroughtabout:eco-crisis,overpopulation,airpollution,spiritalienationandsoon.Therefore,ecofeministscriticizeallformsofdomination:racism,genderdiscrimination,classexploitationandthedominationofnature;theyappealtoconstructanequalandinterconnectedlivingenvironment.11 Diversificationisoneoftheviewpointsofecofeminism.Accordingtoecofeminism,ahealthybalancedecologicalsystemincludinghumanbeingsandanimalsshouldkeepdiversified.Whiletheconsequenceofindustrialtechnologyisthesimplifiedenvironmentwhichbreaksuptheecologicalequilibrium:specieshavebeendecreasingandbecomeextinct.2.1.3EcofeminismasLiteraryCriticismEcofeministliterarycriticismflourishedin1990swhichabsorbsthethoughtsofecologismandfeminism,studyingliteraturefromboththeperspectiveof“nature”and“women”.Feministliterarycriticismandecologicalliteraturecriticismprovidemaintheoreticalbasis.Ecofeministliterarycriticismisthedeepeningandextensionoffeminismliterarycriticismandeco-criticism.Ecofeministliterarycriticismisadevelopingtheorywhichisbasedonthetheoryofecofeminismtoexploretheconnectionsbetweenliteratureandnature,class,genderandrace.Itistryingtorevealthecoherencebetweentheoppressionofwomenandnaturebymen,andfindsawaytosolvetheproblem.Ecofeministliterarycriticsredefineliteratureworksfromtheperspectiveofecofeminism.Suchasworksbyfemalewriterswhichareneglectedbydominantcultureandexploretheecologicalthoughttheyhaveexpressed.Besides,ecofeministsalsodestructthemalewritersandrejecttheirwronginterpretationofthefemaleworkstomanifesttheecologicalconsciousness.Theydoresearchoncontemporarywomenwriters,especiallynonwhitefemalewriters.Besidestraditionalecologicalliterature,theyalsostudyfemaleworksincludingutopiananddystopianwhichreflectecofeministviewsandaimtoconstructagloriousfuture,changingtheinequalityrelationshipofgenderandrace.Basedontheviewpointsofecofeminism,theprinciplesoffeministandecologybecomethecriterionofecofeministliterarycriticism.Literaryworkswithpositiveviewsaboutwomenandnaturethatembodytheinterconnection,integrityandcarearepraisedbyecofeminist,onthecontrary,theworksfilledwithconsciousnessofdominationandoppressionarecriticizedbyecofeminist.Ecofeministliterarycriticismexplorestheconnectionsbetweenwomenandnatureintheliteraryworks.Inwesternculture,womenandnatureareregardedastheobjectsbeingoppressedandexploited.Throughcriticalreadingoftypicalwritings,itcriticizesanthropocentrismandthedestructionofecologicalequilibriumbyscientifictechnologyandover-industrialization,advocatingthediversityofecosystemandconstructingahealthyandharmoniouslivingenvironment.2.2ResearchesonTheSecretLifeofBeesTheSecretLifeofBeeswasfirstpublishedin2002byPenguinin2002andwasdeeply12 lovedbyreadersandcritics.ThenovelwasintroducedtodomesticreadersinContemporaryForeignLiteraturein2007thefirsttimeandhasreceivedgreatreviews.Asthepositivereceptionofthisnovel,ithasbeengettingmoreattentionfromscholarshomeandabroadsinceitispublishedin2002.Manyscholarshavedoneresearchesonthisnovelfromdifferentaspects.Manycriticsregardthisnovelasacoming-of-agestory.KarenDukess(2002)pointsoutthatthisisastoryaboutagirl‟stransformation,andintheoasisofsisterhoodandspirituality,Lilyopensupaboutherpast,learnssomepainfultruthsabouthermotherandmovestowardforgiveness.Ann-JanineMorey(2003)reviewsthatLily‟sstorytellspeoplecoming-of-agesometimesmeansfacingbrutal(wonderful)truthsaboutoneselfortheworld.Somescholarsanalyzedthemetaphorsinthenovel.Forexample,LauraJ.Bloxham(2005)remarked,“Theauthorgivesusalargerframework,bothknowledgeofandametaphorforlifeintheloreofbees.”JudithHebb(2006)givesananalysisonthemetaphoroftheimagesinthenovel.Infact,beesandhoneyarethesymbolsofpainandlove,whilelovecanhealpains.CarlaL.Wonham(2007)analyzesthemetaphoroftheblackMadonnainthenovelwhichsymbolizestheliberationoftheblackpeople.YanJianhua(2005)givesanintertextualreadingoftwocontemporarybestsellers,TheHundredSecretSensesbyChineseAfricanwriterAmyTanandSueMonkKidd‟sTheSecretLifeofBeesfromtheaspectsoflocale,instinctandmysterytoexpoundtheirsharedthemes.Astheabsenceoflovemanifeststheunbalanceofpsychologyandthespiritualcrisisinwesternculture,peoplehavetodiscardssenseandreturntonatureforseekinglove.ShiYonghong(2007)givesananalysisofTheSecretLifeofBeesfromtheperspectiveofEco-criticism.Shestartswiththeecologicalsubjectofpoeticresidence,criticizingthegreatdisasterthatover-industrializationandtechnicalcompetitionbetweenAmericaandtheformerSovietUnionhavebroughttohumanbeings;thensheelucidatesthatpoeticresidenceisthehopeofhumanbeingsgoingbacktothespiritualoasisandnatureiseverlastinghomelandofMan‟sspirit.TheauthortriestoappealtopeopletoreturntonaturewiththestoryofLily.Inheranotherpaper,ShiYonghong(2007)appliestheEcofeministCriticismtostudyTheSecretLifeofBees.ShebeginsheranalysisbycriticizingT.Ray‟ssteppingonroachesextendstohiscrueldominationandoppressionofnatureandwomenaroundhim.Itmainlystudiesthedeeploveofnaturebywomenandtheirrevolttothepatriarchy;expoundingtheprofoundEcofeministawarenessinthenovel.LiuDi(2010)inherdissertationinterpretsthisnovelinthelightofecofeminismtoexploretheintimatetiebetweenwomenandnaturefromtwoaspects:thecrisisfacedbybothnatureandwomen13 andresistancefrombothwomenandnature,concludingthatpatriarchyistherootleadingtothedualdomination.WangAisu(2010)makesacriticalstudyonradicalfeministideologiesofthenovel.Otherscholarsmakesomeanalysesonthethemeofloveintheirpapers,forexample,SandraTabbernee(2004)inthebookreviewsaid,despitethehistoricalrealismofthenovel,thereisafairy-talequalitytoit;theclarityofthenovel‟sprosewillmakeitappealingtoayoungeraudienceaswell.Iwillbepassingitontomymiddle-schooldaughterforitwarminitiationtothinkaboutmotherloveandforgiveness.”ZhenLei(2009)thinksthatthenaturerepresentedbythebeesfilledwithlove,whichcangivehopeandstrengthtohumans,andshetoldusloveisineverywhereifyouwanttofind,eventheunexpectedplace.DuringLily‟sjourneyofsearchingforlove,manyblackwomenalwaysaccompaniedherandtakecareofher.TheytrytoconstructawarmhomeforLilywhoseexperiencestellreadersthatloveexceedsraceandclass.TheblackMaryexistsattheinnerworldofeverybodywhowantstolove.GuYue(2009)exploresthefeministconsciousnessfromthepointofviewoffemaleliterature.SheanalyzesthefemalecharactersinthenoveltofindthatlovecouldhealLily‟sbrokenheartsandhelpheroutfromresentmentandguilttoforgiveothersandherself.Thestoryofsearchingforloveshowsrevealstheeternaltheme:returntohumanity.LvLitaandHuLongqing(2009)thinkthatloveisthestrengthofmaturityandredemptionofsoulthatcansupportthebeliefsandhopeofheirlivesfortheheroesandheroinesinthenovel.Meanwhile,theyanalysisthemetaphorsof“thesecretlifeofbees”,asinthepaper,beesandhoneyarelikepainsandlove.ThetragedyLilyhasexperiencedisthegreatpaininherheart,whenshesetsfootonajourneyofsearchingforlove,shefindshoneytocureherwoundsandthebeefarmistheplaceforhertotransformandgetsoulsalvationNangongMeifang,ZhuHongmei,WuTiantianandLvLita(2011)co-authoredinabookofEcofeminismwithTheSecretLifeofBeesasthespecieforstudywhichanalysistheoppressionofwomenbymenandtheunityoffemaletoresistthepatriarchy,alongwiththelightstudyofthemetaphorsof“bees”and“blackMary”.T.Ray‟scompriseofallowingLilystayingatthebeefarmgiveshopeofendingthepatriarchywhichisalsothewishoftheauthor.WhilethequeenbeeandblackMaryarethemothersofthewomencharactersinthenovel,especialLilywhofindswhatshehasbeenlongingfor.Fromtheperspectiveofcross-culturalcommunication,LaurieGrobman(2008)thinksthatthenovelhastremendousculturalcapital;“ThesecretLifeofBees”presentsacross-cultural14 femaleconversationthathasrichpossibilitiesforteachingandlearningaboutthesematters,notonlyinspiteofitsflawsbutalsobecauseofthem.SusanS.Lanser(2010)fromperspectiveoffeministnarratologyanalysestheimportantelementsofgenderandraceinplot.TheprotagonistLilyhastogetintotheblackpeople‟sspacewhichisdominatedbyblackwomentogetself-acceptance.ThisthesisattemptstostudyTheSecretLifeofBeesbasedonthetheoryofEcofeministcriticismwhichexplorestheecofeministconsciousnessofthenovelindetail.Fromtheaspectsofcharacterization,themesandimageries,thethesisstudiesthepoweroffemalecommunitytooverturnthepatriarchysystem;Lily‟sjourneyofsearchingforloveandtheharmoniousrelationshipbetweenLilyandblackpeoplesubverttheprejudiceofracism.Thisstudyexplorestherelationshipofmanandman,manandnaturetoexpresstheauthor‟sappealingtohumanbeingstoeliminategenderdiscriminationandracismandconstructaharmonioussociety.2.3SummaryThecoreviewofecofeminismisthatthereisconnectionbetweenthedominationofnatureandtheoppressionofwomeninpatriarchalsociety.Theoppressiveconceptualframeworkistherootofpatriarchywhichcontainsthreetraits:dualism,valuehierarchyandlogicofdomination.Thetheoriesofecofeminismareabovefeminismandecologismforitappealstoputanendtoalloppressionsintheworld.Asthedamageofecologicalenvironmentisintensifying,ecofeministthoughtsappearinnewliteraryworkswhichwouldbringarevolutioninliterarycriticalfield.Ecofeminismisgettingmoreattentionbycriticsasliterarycriticism.Itissignificanttostudymoreaboutecofeministliterarycriticismunderthesocialsituationofecologyglobalization.SotheecofeministstudyofTheSecretLifeofBeesisvaluableforthedevelopmentofecofeministliterarycriticism.15 ChapterThreeEcofeministCharacterizationinTheSecretLifeofBees“Ecofeministsregardcare,love,friendship,honestyandmutuallybeneficialastheircorevalues”(Xie,Guo2006)Kiddbelievesthattheunityandloveisnecessaryfortransformationforfemale.Inthisnovel,Kiddcreatesseveralgreatfemaleimagesthatarecharacterizedbymaternitywhohavedifferentexperiencesandvaluesinmarriage,butallofthemaresearchingforaself-identityanddignity.Besidesstrongwomencharacterslivingindependentlyfrommeninthenovel,Kiddcarefullycreatestheugly,evilmaninthenovel,suchasT.Ray;withkind,goodmen,suchasNeilandZach.3.1LilyOwensLilyOwens,thenarratoroftheSecretLifeofBees,alsothemostimportantprotagonistinthestoryisafourteen-year-oldwhitegirl,wholivesalonewithherfather,apeachfarmer,andhermaid,Rosaleen,inSylvan,SouthCarolina.Lily‟smother,Deborahdiedwhenshewasfouryearsold,andLilyhasaconfusingmemoryaboutthedaythatshedied.AsfarasLilyremembers,sheshothermotheraccidentlywhileDeborahandT.Raywerefightingoneday;shefeelsguiltyandsorryforhermother,“shewasallIwanted,andItookheraway”.(Kidd,2002)T.RaytellsLilythatonthedayshediedDeborahhadjustreturnedhometopackupherclothes,intendingtodesertLily.Sincehermother‟sdeath,Lilyhaslivedahorriblelifewithnoloveandcarebutpunishmentbyherfatherwhoalwaysisabusiveandbrutal.Mother‟sdeathanddeserting,father‟sabusemakeLilydeterminetoleavethehorriblefamily;sheandRosaleengotoTiburonwiththecluesthathermotherleftonaBlackMadonnapictureandfindthematernalloveshehasbeenexpectingforherlifeinblacksisters‟pinkhouse.ItisimportanttounderstandLilyifyouwanttounderstandTheSecretLifeofBees,becausethestoryofthenovelistoldbyherandabouther.OnLily,wecanfindtwotraitsthatsheownsspecially.Oneisherbeautifulsoulthatsheloveseverythinginthenatureanddesirestobelovedbyothers.Thoughlivesinanunpleasantmotherlessfamilyandherfatherevenneversmilesonher,sheisstillfullwithlovewhichisindicatedfromherlovefornature.Shecatchesabeeandkeepsitinajar;stabbingsomeholesonthebottlecapforfearthatthebeewouldbesmothered.Onthebeefarm,shelearnsandhelpskeepbeeswithAugust.Shetreatsthebeesasherfriendsandshetriestolovethem.Herfather‟speachfarmisherparadisewhereshehideshermother‟srelicsandstaysawayfromherfather‟sabuse.TheloveandcarefornatureofLilyembodiesherecologicalethicsconsciousness.Inthenovel,therearemanydescriptionsaboutherattitudetowardsthingsinnature.Whenshewasyoung,someboysbulliedherhungfisharoundherneck.16 Shehelplesslywatchedthefishdiedandshestillwassorryforthatmanyyearslater.ForLily,naturallivesarethesameashumanwhoalsohavefeelingsandlivesthathumanshouldtreatthemequally.Besideslovefornature,Lilydeeplylovespeoplearoundher,evenherfather.ShetriestomakesurethatT.Raylovesherandmakeseffortstogainlovefromhim,thoughitisunsatisfactoryatlast.AnothertraitofLilyisherdeterminationtosearchformaternallove.Lilyiseagerforloveandwantstoacquireacceptationandattentionfromherfather,heronlyfamily,buthenevercaresabouther.ShedoesnotbelievewhatT.Raysaidabouthermotherabandoninghersoshesetsfootonsearchingforhermother‟strace.Herdeterminationofsearchingformother‟sloverewardedheratlast.ShematuresintoayoungwomaninthepinkhouseofBoatwright‟shousewiththehelpandcareofBoatwrightsistersandZach.Overthecourseofthenovel,Lilymaturesintoayoungwoman.Lilyatlastbecomesapartofthissupportivecommunityandshelearnsthingsaboutherselfanddevelopsamorepositivecharacteringeneral.Augustinspireshertobemoreintrospective,Zachinspireshertobemoresensitive,andthebeesinspirehertoworkharder.Bythetimeshelearnsthetruthabouthermotherabandoningher,Lilyisstrongenoughtounderstandthatitisnotherfault.Sheismatureenoughtoprocessthefeelingsofguilt,anger,andconfusion.Confrontingherfather,Lilyhascometorealizethathe,justlikehermother,isaflawedandcomplexhuman.Inaway,sheforgiveshim,alsoforgiveshermother‟sabandoning,evenherguiltforshootinghermother.ThisabilitytolovewithoutguiltorblameisthemostimportantindicationofLily‟stransformation.Attheendofthenovel,Lilyhastakenaproactiveroleinherownlife,onherwaytocomingofageanddevelopingintoalovedandlovingperson.Likehermother,Lilylovesnatureandvaluesthelivesofalltheanimals,insects,evenplantsasshethinksthattheyhaveliveslikehumanbeings.Nevertheless,theresentmentofhermother‟sabandoningandself-accusationofshootinghermothertodeathmakehersufferalot.Finally,unendurabletoherfather‟scrueltyandabuse,sherunsawaylikehermothertostartanewlife.Lily‟srunningawayistheextensionofDeborah‟sresistingmalepowerandfightingforfreedom.ItisaprocessthatfrompsychologytoactionandfromsecrettopublicwhichshowsLily‟sobviousfeministconsciousness.Beingoppressedbythepatriarchysinceyoung,Lilydesirestorevoltandsherunsawayatlast.3.2RosaleenDaiseLily‟sblackmaidwhohastakencareofLilysincehermotherdied.WeknowalittleaboutherlifeexperiencesexceptsheisfromMcClellanvilleSouthCarolinaandherageismysterybecauseshehasnobirthcertificate.Shehassixbrothersandsistersbutsheneverseesthemevenhasnoideaofwheretheyare.SheistheonlyonethatlovesLily;ina17 sense,sheisthefirstsurrogatemotherofLily.Sheisaheavy,stubbornandspunkywomanwhonevertakesabusefromanyone.AsLilystates,sheistendererthanaflowerskindespitehersharpways.ShelovesLilyandprotectsherashermother.Once,sheboughtanEaster-dyedbiddyforLilybutT.Raythreatenedtoboilthechickfordinner.Rosaleenstoppedhimandscoldedhimfearlessofbeingfired.LikeLily,Rosaleenalsolovesnature.Herhouseisbackinthewoods;shehasaspecialshelfwithastubofcandle,creekrocks,areddishfeather,andapieceofJohntheConquerorroots,evenhermother‟spicture.Thisisareligionshemakesupforherself,amixtureofnatureandancestorworshipwhichindicatesherlovetonatureanddrawsLilytoherbecausetheylovethesamenature.Rosaleenputhermother‟spicturewithnaturalthingsshowsthatinhermind,motheristhesameasnaturewhichisselflessandloving,greatandsacred.Besideshertenderside,wealsocanfindanothersideofRosaleen.Shedefiesthepatriarchyandthrowsherhusbandoutthreeyearsaftertheymarriedforcarousingwhichisrareevenviolatethesocialcustomsthen.BeingAfricanAmerican,Rosaleensuffersracialdiscriminationthesameasotherblackpeople,butsheisbolshy.Onherwaytoregistertovote,sherunsintothreewhitemenwhotauntherandsheangrilyspillschewing-tobaccojuiceontheirshoes.Theyhitherbutthepolicearrestherforassaultanddisturbingthepeace.LilywishesRosaleentoapologizetothosewhitemenbutRosaleenwouldratherdiethansubmit.ToLilyandmanyothers,racismisimpenetrableandcannotbedemolished.Thingsarethewaytheyarebecausethatisthewaytheyare,andnothingcanchangethat.Rosaleen,however,understandsthatshemustmakeuseofherlegalrighttovote,nomatterwhatwouldcosts.ThefactthatthethreeracistsstandinRosaleen‟swaygivesherachancetostandupforherrights.Neveroncedoesitenterhermindtoapologize,becauseshebelievesthatthewhitemenarewrong.ComparedtoDeborah,Rosaleenisbraverindefendingherownrights.Shescoldsemployer,throwingherhusbandoutandfightingwiththreewhitemen,refusingtoapologizeevenbeingarrested.Herbravenessmakesheradorable.3.3BoatwrightSisters“Thewomanmovedalongarowofwhiteboxesthatborderedthewoodsbesidethepinkhouse,ahousesopinkitremainedascorchedshockonthebackofmyeyelidsafterIlookedaway.Shewastall,dressedinwhite,wearingapithhelmetwithveilsthatfloatedacrossherface,settledaroundhershoulders,andtraileddownherback.ShelookedlikeanAfricanbride.”(Kidd,2002:67)ThisiswhatLilythinksofAugustBoatwrightthefirsttimesheseesher.Despite18 beingablackwomanintheSouth,Augustrunsabeefarm,andsheisaneducated,acceptingpersonwhoisknowledgeableandbehavesproperly.Augustfunctionsasthespiritualcoreofthebook,thewisesagethatleadsthenoveltowarditspositiveconclusion.ShehascreatedaremarkablecommunityinTiburon.AugustbecomesasurrogatemotherforLily,atrustedfriend,andguidinglight.August‟sundyingsupport,trust,andlovesavesLilywhichalsowarmsJuneandMay,givessupporttotheDaughtersofMary,andZach.Inthenovel,Augustseemstobealmightyandrespectedbypeoplearoundher.SheteachesLilythetruthofkeepingbeesandlifelikeamother.ShecaresforJuneandMayasaresponsiblesister.ShegivessupportstoZachasaGod-Mother.Augusthasatrueloveforbees,forlife,andforlove.Sheoffersherhelpandadvicewhenevershecan.Ratherthanfallintomarriageormotherhood,Augustdecidesagainstmarriagebecauseshedoesnotlikehowitsetsupinmarriageandsheprefersfreedomtorestrictions.Augustisaninner-directedwomanwhochoosesherownwayoflifebravely.AlwayspresentingherlifephilosophytoLilyrevealsAugusttobenotonlywarmandlovingbutalsoknowledgeableandwell-educated.August‟swisdomhasbeenhard-won.SheisanAfricanAmericanwhohastoovercomemanyobstaclesinherlifeandbusiness-owningindependently.AfterMay‟sdeath,sheknowsthatnothingisperfect,andsheknowsthatthislackofperfectionis,byitsverydefinition,thestuffthatlifeismadeupof.AfterLilytellsherthetruthaboutherrunningawayandherroleinDeborah‟sdeath,sheguidesLilyintoacceptingtherealitiesoflife.SherescuesLilyandshowsherabetterwayoflife.Actually,Augustisthegoodmodelforallwomen.Sheissmart,tenaciousandkind-hearted.Itseemsthatshehasalltheadvantagesasawoman.JuneBoatwright,thesecondsisterofBoatwright,theonewhoishardtogetafixonandtemperamental.SheisabeautifulandindependentwomanandteachesHistoryandEnglishatcoloredhighschoolbutwhatshereallylovesismusicandsheoftenplaysthecellofordyingpeopletoserenadethemintothenextlife.ShedoesnotlikeLilyatfirstmainlybecauseofhercolorofskin;shehateswhitepeopleasmanyblackpeopledofortheirunfairtreatment.SheresentsLilyforAugustworkinginDeborah‟shousebefore.Afterwards,shegraduallycomestoloveLilyaftersheknowsherexperiences.ShehasaboyfriendNeil,butsherefuseshisproposalallthetime.Junehasahorribleexperiencethatshewasleftattheweddingbyherformerfiancéeandthereforesheisafraidofmarriage.ShelovesNeilbutshefearsforbetrayal,soshedecidestoevade.Eventually,afterMay‟sdeath,sheisconvincedtomarryNeil.Juneisastrongwomanwhohasstrongselfesteem.Failureinmarriagemakesherstandoffishtootherpeople,especiallytomen.Sheeversworethatshewouldneverloveanypeople.SosherefusesNeil‟proposal,actually,thisisherexpressionsofopposingoppressions.19 Mayisthesmallestsisterinthefamilywhoiskind-heartedandnaive.Whensheisyoung,hertwinsisterAprilcommittedsuicideforunfairtreatmentwhichbroughtgreatimpactonMay‟sspirit.Mayfindsgreatsadnessinthepainofothers.Whenanunpleasantorsadtopicwouldbebroughtupinaroom,shewouldhum“OhSusannah”.Shebuildsawailingwallasacatharsisforherpain,butsheisstillunabletobeartheweightoftheworld.Sheissosensitivetopainofothersandtheworldthatshecarriestheweightoftheworldinhersoul.Atlast,shedrownsherselfwhenshehearsthenewsofZachbeingarrested.Mayhasgreatlovetoeverythingintheworld.Shelovesnaturalthings,protectingthemwithherownways.Forexample,shedoesnotallowtrapsinthehouse,asshecouldnotbearthethoughtofasufferingratandwhenshecatchesspidersshecarriesthemoutofthehouseinthedustpan.Sheputsapairofsocksontwoofthetub‟sfeet.SheteachesLily‟smother,Deborahthewaytogetridofroacheswithmarshmallowsandgrahamcrackers.May‟ssoulispureandshealwaysbemoansthestateoftheuniverseandpitiesthefateofhumankind.Thoughdiedintheend,Mayresiststheinequalitywithakindofextrememethod.Infact,May‟sdeathmakesthesistersbegintoliveagain.Intheoppressivesociety,toMaywholikesanangel,deathisliberationofoppression.Inthenovel,theBoatwrightsistersexhibitakindofUtopianecofeministconsciousness.Thethreesisterslivehappilyintheirparadise,thebeefarm.Duringthetimesofracisminvogue,thebeefarmlikesafictitiouslandofpeacewheretheycanbeclosetonatureandlivewithdignityandindependently.3.4DeborahOwensLily‟smother,DeborahOwens,formerlynamedDeborahFontanel.Althoughsheneverappearsinthenovel,sheisreallyanimportantcharacter,perhapsthemostimportantpersoninLily‟slife.ThenovelbeginswithLily‟smemoriesofhermother:hermother‟ssmell,thefeelingsLilyexperiencedwhilearoundher,herfightingwithT.Rayonthedayshedied.Ineverychapter,Lilythinksabouthermother;everysingleincidentorobjectwouldarousehermemoryabouthermother.DeborahexistsasacharacteronlytotheextentthatLilykeepsheraliveinherimagination.Deborahhasbeendeadfortenyears,butKiddusesmanyliterarytechniquestobringLily‟smothertolife,includingflashbacks,storytelling,anddreams.ThroughthenarrationofAugust,welearnmoreaboutDeborah.ShegrowsupinRichmondVirginiawhereAugustworkedasherhousekeeper.Afterwards,shemovestoSylvanwithafriendfromhighschool.DuringherconversationwithAugust,LilylearnsthatDeborahabandonedher,andLilynowhastolearntolivewiththattruth.HermotherisnotaperfectpersonasLilyimaginedhertobe,instead,shewasahumanbeing,andlikeallhumans,Deborahmademistakes.20 Inasense,Deborahisthevictimofthepatriarchy.ShedatesT.Rayjustbecauseshelovesthefactheisdecoratedinthewar,soshethinksheisbrave.Butaftertheylivetogether,shefindsanothersideofT.Raythatbreaksupherromanticdream.Intheletter,shetellsAugustthatT.Rayhasdirtunderhisfingernailsandshewondersifshecouldlivewayoutonafarm.While,shefindsthatsheispregnantwhensheintendstorefusehisproposal.TraditionalbeliefsaboutchastenessletherchoosestomarryT.Rayforthebabywhichisthebeginningofhertragiclife.Ecofeministsarguethatwomenareclosertonaturethanmen.Theylovenatureandtreatnaturefairly.Theyshowintimaterelationshipwithnaturewiththeirownways.While,thisrelationshipmakeswomenandnaturebecome“others”ofmen.Deborahisaromanticwoman.Thoughtherearelittledescriptionsaboutherinthenovel,fromhergettingridofroacheswithmarshmallowsandgrahamcrackers,welearnthatshelovesnatureandlife,evenroaches‟life.Butsheleadsahorriblelifeundertheoppressionofpatriarchy;gettingnocomprehensionandrespectwhichcompelsherrunningawayfromhomethatleadstoherdeathindirectly.Deborahawakeslate;shechoosestomarryT.Rayevenshefindsthatshedoesnotlovehimjustbecauseshehasbeenpregnant.Maternitymakeshersubmittodestinywhichistheadvantage,alsotheweaknessofwomen.Thoughlate,herleavingandfightingwithT.Rayindicatesherawakeningoffeministconsciousnessandpersonality.3.5TerrenceRayOwensTerrenceRayOwens,Lily‟sfatherwhomanagesapeachfarminSylvan,SouthCarolina.Absolutely,T.RayistheclassicmaleimageofpatriarchyintheSecretLifeofBees.ThereisnotsomuchaboutT.Raywhojustpresentsinthebeginningandthefinalchapter.Inthefirstchapter,LilysaysshenevercallsT.Raydaddybecause“Daddy”neverfithim.“Hehadanornerinessyear-around,butespeciallyinthesummer,whenheworkedhispeachorchardsdaylighttodusk”.(Kidd,2002:3)Heisinsensitive,emotionallyneglectfultowardshisdaughterandphysicallyabusive.HisonlykindnesswasforSnout,hisbirddogwhosleptinhisbedandgotherstomachscratchedanytimesherolledontoherwiryback.T.Raylikeshisdogdoesnotmeanthathelovesnatureandanimals,justbecausehelikestohuntinnature.AndSnoutishisaccompliceinhunting.ThiscomparedtohisfierceandmaliciousattitudetothechickenthatRosaleengivestoLily.HestepsonaroachandabuseDeborahasalunaticforherspendinghoursluringroachesoutofthehousewithbitsofmarshmallowandtraitsofgraham-crackercrumbs.TheroachisthesymbolofnaturethatKiddintendstoprotrudeT.Ray‟scrueltytonaturebycomparinghisattitudetonaturewithDeborahandLily.Apparently,T.Rayhasgreatdesireforcontroltopeoplearoundhimbymaleinstinct.Herudelysuppresseshiswife21 anddaughter.BeingawareofDeborah‟sunhappinesslivingwithhim,hestilldoesnotreleaseher.Instead,hetriestocontrolher.Deborah‟sleavinggreatlyhurtsT.Ray‟sdignityasaman,sohetransfershisangertoLilyafterhiswifedied.Asafather,hetreatsLilybadly;heoftenletsherkneelongritsandheclapshermanytimes,evensheisjustasmallgirl.Besidesphysicalpunishment,heranklesinherheartandspirit.HeknowsthatLilycaresabouthermother,buthedeliberatelytellsherthatDeborahintendingleftherbehind,andshecaredlessaboutherthatgreatlybreaksLily‟sheart.HeprohibitsLilyfromtakingpartinanysocialactivities,includingschool-relatedones,andshehastowearclothesshemanagestosewherself.Amotherlessgirlhungersforfather‟slovebutT.RayintentionallyneglectsLily‟swill.Herefusestobuybirthdaypresentsforher,evenagainstherreadingbooks,becausehethinksthatit‟sawasteofmoneyforgirlstogotocollegewhichexhibitsT.Ray‟sdiscriminationandprejudicetofemale.ItseemsthatT.Rayisanunsympatheticman.WhenLilybeghimtogetRosaleenoutoftheprison,herefusesandfrightensLilythewhitepeoplewouldkillRosaleen.ThoughRosaleenhasbeenworkedforhim,heleavesherinjail.T.Rayisalienatedbypatriarchywhodrivesawayhiswifeanddaughterwithhismalepower.Thecauseofalienationandbeingcoldanddetachedisthepatriarchyculturewhichmakeswomenthe“others”andleadstooppressiontowomen.Nevertheless,T.Rayisnotincorrigible.Underthecoldandcruelsurfaceisabrokenheartwhichisremainsconscienceandhumanity.Inthelastchapter,T.RayfindsLilyinthepinkhouseandheconfusesLilywithDeborah.ItseemsthatthisisthefirsttimeT.Rayshowsanotherside—theunknownsidebyLily.Inhiseyes,sheseesnothingbutanoceanofhurt.AfterDeborah‟sliving,hehadlookedforhereverywherehecouldthinkandDeborah‟sdeathbroughtgreathurttohim.“Youlooklikeher”(Kidd,2002:296)T.RaysayseverythingwhyhehasbeensoabusivetoLilyjustbecauseitremindshimaboutDeboraheverytimeheseesher.FromhisattitudetoLily,wecanimaginehowunhappyDeborahislivingwithhim.Deborah‟sdeathisakindofrelieffromT.Ray‟soppression.Butatlast,hesubmitstothewomencommunitylettingLilystaywiththeminthebeefarm.T.Ray‟scompromisesuggeststhathumanbeingsshouldendthepatriarchyculturewiththereturnofhumanity.3.6ZacharyTaylorandNeilBlackmenZachandNeilarepositivefemaleimagesinthenovel.Theirclassstatusandracemakethemimmunetopatriarchy.Theyarenotthegroupofaggressive,arbitraryandoppressivetowomen.Instead,theyrespect,careandtreatthemequally.Inasense,Zachisaperfectfemaleimage.HeisbornandraisedinTiburon.Though22 desertedbyhisfatherwhenhewasyounghehasgrownupwithmanyadvantageswiththeloveandsupportoftheBoatwrightsisters.Heisgoodatsports,handsome,intelligent,andhardworking.However,asablackmaninthemid-centurySouth,Zachisatadisadvantage.Nevertheless,Zachdoesnotlethisraceactasanegativeforceinhislife.DifferentskincolordoesnotpreventZachfromfallinginlovewithLily,hisracedosenotpreventhimfromdreamingaboutbecomingalawyer.Instead,thestatusofbeingAfricanAmericaninspiresZachtoimagineabetter,moreproductivefutureforhimself.Whenheisimprisonedasaresultofhisrace,andforhisrefusaltoturninafriend,hemerelybecomesmoreempowered,moredriven,andmorefocusedonchangingthecourseofhislife.HeencouragesLilytoaccomplishherdreamandhelpsheroutofhopelessness.JustasLilysays,”IwouldneverfindabetterfriendthanZacharyTaylor”(Kidd,2002:135).NeilistheheadmasteroftheschoolwhereJuneworksfor.Heistall,honestandwarm-hearted.Heisfaithfulinlove,thoughrefusedbyJuneformanytimes.Herespectsblackwomenfortheyarethehopeoftheirnation.Juneisabandonedandheart-broken.Neil‟sexcellentqualityattractsJuneandreconstructsherconfidenceinsearchingforloveandhappiness.ZachandNeilaretheperfectfemaleimagetheyshowthepossibilityoftheendingofpatriarchy.3.7SummeryAmericanecofeministKarenWarrenpointsthat“Ecofeminismanalysisthetwindomination—thedominationofwomenandnature,consideringtheoppressionofcoloredpeople,childrenandlowerclass”(Warren,1994:1).Ecofeministsopposeanthropocentrismandandrocentrism.Theycriticizethevalueofmalesupremacycultureandeulogizewomen‟sintrinsicquality.TheSecretLifeofBeesgivesatenderannotationofecofeminism.Inthenovel,theauthordepictsseveralkind,lovingandbravefemaleimages.Theauthoreulogizesthecommunitypoweroffemalebypresentingthecoming-of-agestory.RosaleenhasraisedLily,andLilylookstoRosaleenforloveandsupport.MotherlessLilyfindsattheBoatwrighthouseseveralsurrogatemothersandlearnsthepoweroffemalecommunityandsheseeshowstrongwomensupport,tendto,comfort,encourage,andloveoneanotherbywitnessingthebondsbetweentheDaughtersofMary.Withthehelpoffemalecommunity,Lilybeginstofeelempoweredasawomanandtransformintoalovingwoman.AsAfricanAmerican,Kiddeverexperienceddoubleoppressionsofpatriarchy.ThethreeblacksistersinthenovelandRosaleenrepresentthenewblackfemaleimageswhostrivetobecomestrongerandsupportthemselvesindependently;theybreaktherestrictionsofpatriarchy,havinggreatnationaldignity.Theyaremodelsthattheauthormakestobelearnedby23 blackwomenandtheybringhopeandfutureforthem.ThethreewhitemenwhoharassRosaleenandT.Rayarethenegativeimagesthatoppresswomen.Theyrepresentthemalesupremacyculturethatoppressanddisrespectwomen.Rosaleen‟sfightingwiththoseracistsandLily‟sleavinghomeexpressthewishofstrivingforfreedomandequalityofwomen.KiddcreatestheperfectmaleZachandNeiltohelpthewomeninthenovelwhichdeliversherviewofconstructingaharmonioussociety.24 ChapterFourEcofeministThemesofTheSecretLifeofBeesEcologicalcrisisisthetopurgentinmodernsocietythatgreatlythreatensthesurvivalofhumanbeings.Ecofeminismprovidesanewperspectivetoresolvetheproblemsofecocrisisbycombiningfeminismandenvironmentalism.Inthesituationofglobalization,weshouldputtheenvironmentalprotectionandtheliberationofwomentogetherwithothersocialproblems,suchasracism,classexploitationandallinequalitiestosolveecocrisisfundamentally.TheSecretLifeofBeeswithitsuniqueperspectivepresentssuchproblems:genderdiscrimination,environmentaldisruptionandracism.Thischapteranalysesthethemesofthenovel:theexploitationandoppressionofnatureandwomen;racismandajourneyofsearchingforlove.4.1ExploitationandOppressionTheauthorKiddcreatesatypicalmalecharacter,T.Raytotellreaderstheoppressionofwomenbymenandshedepictsavividpictureof1960‟sAmerica,adevelopedtechnologicalsocietywhichcriticizestheexploitationofnaturebyhumanbeingsontheotherside.4.1.1TheExploitationofNaturebyHumanEcofeminismunitesfeminismandecologism.Ecofeministsrealizethatmanandnature,manandmanareinterdependent.Humanbeingscannotlivewithoutnature.Butmaleownershipoflandhasledtoadominatorculture—patriarchywhichmanifestsitselfinfoodexport,over-grazing,exploitationofnatureandanabusivelandethic,inwhichanimalsandlandarevaluedonlyaseconomicresources.Accordingtothetraditionaldualism,humanbeingsareinferiortonatureethically,soitisreasonableformantocontrolnatureandusenature.Ecofeministsstatethatitisself-destructionforhumanbeingstoexploitanddamagenature.Theyconcernabouttheecologycrisisonearth,deforestation,andairandwaterpollution,EcofeministSusanGriffinpointsthatourwayoflifeisdestroyingthecircumstances,ourbodyevenourgenetics.(Jiang,2009)Thesocialmentalityofoppressionofwomenleadstotheabuseofglobalenvironment.Lily‟sfather,T.Rayistheclassicmalecharacter,thebrutalconqueroranddestroyer.Inthenovel,theauthormentionsthatT.Raystepsonaroachandabusehiswifebeingmadtogetridoftheroacheswithmarshmallowsandgrahamcrackers.TheroachisthesymbolofnaturethattheauthorintendstomanifestT.Ray‟scrueltytonature.Helikestohuntandenjoyhuntinganimalswillfully;hisdogSnoutishisaccomplice.Inaddition,asthetoolsofconquerand25 domination,theimagesof“knife”and“gun”appearsseveraltimesaccompaniedwithT.Rayimplieshisdesireofdominatinganddestroyingwomenandnature.(Shi,2007)stInthe21century,twopressingproblemsfacetheworld:waranddeteriorationofecologicalenvironment.Wardestroysallthematerialandspiritualwealththathumanbeingshavecreatedforcenturies.Thedeteriorationofecologicalenvironmentisdestroyingtheenvironmentthathumanbeinglivein.TheSecretLifeofBeesissetin1960s‟American,aperiodoftroublewhenUs.-sovietcoldwar,theApolloprogram,andtheVietnamWarhappened.AfterWorldWarTwo,peopleseethegreatpowerofatomicbomb.Astheworldpowerthen,AmericaandSovietcompeteinsciencetechnologyandmilitaryarmament.Theymakeatomicbombdesperatelyandholdlarge-scalemilitaryexercises.Peopleworryaboutwarandnuclearradiationallday.Lilyandherschoolmatesoftenhavebombdrillsatschool;everybodyputfalloutsheltersintheirbackyards,canningtapwater,gettingreadyfortheendoftime.“WewereobsessedwithMr.Khrushchevandhismissiles”.(Kidd,2002:20)Humanbeingsputthemselvestotheedgeofdangerwhentheyplunder,conquerandcontrolnaturewhichgreatlythreatenstheirsurvival.Buttheylearnnolessonfromthis;instead,theygoontheirwayofexploitingnature.Theimageof“moon”hastheconnotationofmystery,beautyandpeace.Inthenovel,itappearsmanytimes.ToLily,“moon”islikemother;everytimeshemissesmother,shewouldlookupthemoon.Onseeingthemoon,thereishopeinherheart.Inthenovel,the“moon”symbolizesloveandwarmnesswhichliftsthenicewishesanddreamsandrepresentshumanbeings‟spiritualsustenance.(Shi,2007)Nevertheless,indulgedineconomicdevelopment,Americangovernmentsetsfootonthemoontofindmorevaluefordevelopment.AsAugustsays,“…aslongaspeoplehavebeenonthisearth,themoonhasbeenamysterytous…aftertheyhavelandedupandwalkedaroundher,she‟llbejustonemorebigscienceproject.”(Kidd,2002:114)LilyeverdreamsthatthebreaklooseandfalloutoftheskywhichimpliesthattheApolloprojectlookslikeaprogressinsciencehistory,actuallyitisthebeginningofecologicaldamagebyhumanbeingsofouterspace.August‟smotherevertoldherthatOurLady(theblackMadonna)livedonthemoon,buttheexploitationofthemoonmakeeverythingchanged.ThebrokenmooninLily‟sdreamfrightensherbecausethemoonisthemotherinherheart.Resourceexhaustionandenvironmentalpollutionmakehumanbeingsliveinadangerousenvironment.CarolynMerchant(1980)inhertheDeathofNature:Women,Ecology,andScientificRevolutionarguesthatbeforetheseventeenthcentury,HolisticOrganicTheoryconceivesnatureonanorganicmodelasaphilanthropicfemaleandanurturingmother;Theuniverseisanorganicwholeinwhichalllivingbeingsareinterrelatedandinteractedandunitedbyattractionandlove.Butaftertheindustrialrevolution,thedevelopmentofcommercialeconomyandscientifictechnologyformmechanisticphilosophywhichreplaceOrganicismthatconceive26 natureonamechanisticmodelasmachine,passive,dead.Onbothmodels,natureisfemale.Merchantarguesthatthechangefromtheorganictothemechanisticmodelmaketheexploitationofthe(female)earthjustified.Themechanisticworldviewofmodernsciencepermitstheexploitationofnature,unrestrainedcommercialexpansion,andsocioeconomicconditionsthatretainsthesubordinationofwomen.WesternMarxistspointoutthatinmoderncapitalistsocietytheconflictbetweenmanandnaturestemsfromseekingforcreaturecomfortandhigh-valueconsumptionlife-style.(Hu,2006:69)Technologyandtechnologymentalitypermeateintoeveryaspectofmodernlifeandalienatetherelationshipofmanandman,manandnature.Thealienationmakesthesocietyasicksocietyandpeoplebecomecoldanddetached.Undersuchdissimilatedcircumstance,everythingisrecognizedbyitseconomicvalueandpeopleonlycareaboutbenefit,neglectingwarmnessandlove.Livinginthisoffishenvironment,themotherlessgirl,Lilyseldomfeelslovefrompeoplearoundherwhichmakeshermorelonelyandhelpless.Sheislackoftrustsosheliesandmakeupstoriestoprotectherself.Whenshelooksattheskyshethinksthattherearespysatellitesmixedinthestarsoneofwhichistakingherpicture.Thespysatellitesspottheworldeveninthedark;nothingissafe.Shetriestoseethroughthedarknesstosomesilveroflightwhichimpliesherinnerdesireofloveandcare.Sheneedsaplacewhereisfulloflovethatshecanlivefreelyandsafely.Ecofeministsquerytheconceptofdevelopmentfortheythinkthatdevelopmentisbasedonwesternmalepowersystemandcapitalisteconomy.Andtherootofwomen‟sadversityisthatdevelopmentmeansdestructionofnaturalresources.Theyproposethatifthegenderdifferencescanbeconsidered,thesocietywouldgetmoreprogressindeveloping.Economydevelopmentshouldconformtonaturalrule,notpursuingcompetingandaggressionblindly.4.1.2TheOppressionofWomenbyMenKareninherEcologicalFeminism(1994)criticizesthelogicofdomination.Inthetraditionaldominationlogic,womenequaltonaturethatbelongtophysicalwordwhilemenequalto“humanbeings”thatbelongtospiritualworld;thoseequaltonatureandbelongtophysicalwordarelowerthanthoseequalto“humanbeings”andbelongtospiritualworld.Thatistosay,menaresuperiortowomen,soitisreasonableformentodominatewomen.(Hu,2006:141)Mentakewomenastheirprivatepropertyandwomenshouldtakeordersfrommen.InancientGeek,androcentrismhasbeenexistedinwesternculture.AristotleevercitedHomer‟swords,“anyindividualshouldmakelawforhiswifeandchildren.”(Aristotle,2003,citedinWang,2010)ToAristotle,menhavetherightsof27 dominatingwomenandchildrenforfemaleareinferiortomale.Womenareborntobepossessedandsubjugatedbymenjustasanimalsandplantsareusedtoprovidefoodandtools.Fromthisperspective,natureandwomenhavethesamedestiny.Inandrocentrismlogic,womenareobjectstobechasedandpossessedasthewildanimalsbymale.Mentakewomenasanimalsandsatisfytheirdesirebypossessingthem.IntheSecretLifeofBees,T.RayregardsDeborahashisprivateproperty.Initially,hedoesloveandadoreDeborah.DeboraheversaystoAugustthatT.Raytreatsherlikeaprincess.ItdoesnotmeanT.Rayisphilanthropic;hejustenjoystheprocessofchasingandrunningafter.Sherunsfaster,hisdesireisstronger.Whenhecatchesupher,hewillpossessherbodylikepossessprey.(Wang,2010)WhenDeborahliveswithT.Ray,shefindshisdespotismandmalechauvinism.ButshefailstoescapefromthedominationofT.Raybecausesheispregnant.Intraditionaldominationlogic,womenarethesubordinatesofmeniftheygavethemselvestomen.SoDeborahmarriesT.Rayevenshedoesnotlovehimanylonger.T.Rayoppresseshiswifebothinphysicalandspiritual.KnowingthatDeborahisunhappylivingwithhim,T.Raystillmakesherstaywithhim.HecannotunderstandDeborah‟smethodofgettingtheroachesoutofthehouse,andhedoesnotrespectandcomprehendher.Atlast,unbearabletotheoppressivelife,DeborahrunsawaywhichgreatlyhurtT.Ray‟smaleesteemwhichleadstoherdeathindirectly.“WhenIpickedherupintheatthebusstation,shedidn‟tlooklikeherself.Shehadgottensothinandhadthesedarkcirclesunderhereyes…sheisdepressed,kindoffallingapart”(Kidd,2002:251)AugustdescribesthedaysheseesDeborahwhensheleftT.Ray.Apparently,Deborahistorturedalotonthepeachfarm.Herfemaleconsciousnessawakeslatewhichcauseshertragiclife.Inthefinalchapter,whenT.RayconfusedLilywithDeborah,hisangerburstout.Heseemedcrazywithanguish,relivingapainhe‟dkeptlockedupallthistime,andnowthatitwasloose,ithadoverwhelmedhim.(Kidd,2002:294)T.Ray‟slovetoDeborahiscompellentandselfish.Inpatriarchysociety,menlikestodominatewomen,soifwomendosomethingviolatetheirwill,theywouldbeangryandpunishthem.WhenT.RayshoutsatLily,heisshoutingatDeborahactually.“Howdareyouleaveme!Youneedalesson,iswhatyouneed!”(Kidd,2002:294)T.Ray‟scrueltytoDeborahshowshismalechauvinism.Deborah‟sleavingmakeshimutterlydiscomfited,whileherdeathmakeshimturntoangerandbecomebittertowardshisdaughter,Lily.Inthefirstchapter,LilytellsusthatshecallsherdaddyT.Raywhoneverfit“Daddy”.Hehasornerinessyear-roundandshehastostayoutofhisway,otherwise,shewouldbepunishedtokneelonMarthaWhitegrits.T.Raymakesherkneelonthegrits28 sinceshewassix,herkneesareswollenwithhundredsofredwelts,thefeelinglikeskneelonpowdered-glass.HedominateshisdaughterjustlikehedominatesDeborah.“Aslongasyouliveundermyroof,you‟lldowhatIsay!”(Kidd,2002:26)Hekeepsherstayathomeormakesherworkforhim,tosellpeachesonthepeachstand.Hedoesnotallowhertakepartinanyactivities.“Hedidn‟tbelieveinslumberpartiesorsockhops…herefusedtodrivemetotownforfootballgames,peprallies,orBetaClubcarwashes,hedidn‟tcarethatIworeclothesImadeformyselfinhomeeconomicsclass”(Kidd,2002:8)T.RaytreatshisdogSnoutbetterthanhisdaughterwhocansleepinhisbed,butheneversmilesatLily,evenrefusesherwishforabirthdaypresent.Beingill-treatedathome,Lilyhasnofriendatschool.Noboysseemattractedtoher,evenclumpsofwhisperinggirlsgetquietwhenshepasses.Nobodyeversaythatsheisbeautiful,exceptblindMissJennings.Lilyisisolatedbyotherchildren.Sheworriesabouthowshelooksandwhethersheisdoingthingsrightthatshefeelshalfthetimesheisimpersonatingagirlinsteadofreallybeingone.SinceDeborahisdead,LilyhastorelyonRosaleenformaternalcare.Withoutarealmother,beingguiltyaboutherroleinDeborah‟sdeathandlackingfriendsmakeLilyextremelyunfeminine.Sheisrefusedtothecharmschoolbecauseshedoesnothaveamother,agrandmother,orevenameaslyaunttopresentherwithawhiteroseattheclosingceremony.Noonebuthermothercouldunderstandthemagnitudeofdrivinghertojuniorcheerleadertryouts,andwhenshewakesupwiththerose-petalstainonherpanties,shecanshowittonobodyexceptRosaleen.BecauseLilylacksmaternalsupport,shehasnowheretoexpressherinsecurities.Asafather,T.Rayfailstogiveherlove,supportandunderstanding,evenasafeplacetoexpressherfearsandfrustrations.Lilyhasadeephumanneedtobeloved.SheevenrisksherlifeandfreedombybreakingRosaleenoutofjailandgotoastrangeplacetofindlove.4.2RaceRelationshipsAnothermajorthemeinthenovelisracism.ThestoryissetintheSouthAmerica1964whenPresidentJohnsonsignedtheCivilRightsActwhichcausesthediscontentofracists.Theblackpeopledemonstrateforcivilrightsandprotestracediscrimination.Kiddcriticizestheraceprejudiceinthenovelandattemptstoreconstructtheracialidentityofblackandwhite.4.2.1TheIrrationalityofRacismEcofeminismnotonlyconsiderstheinterconnectionsbetweenwomenandnature,butalsoconcernaboutracismandsocialinequalities.(Hu,2006:149)Someecofeministspoint29 outthatanthropocentrismreferstomale,especiallywhitemen.Besidesnature,women,coloredpeopleandthethirdworldcountriesarethevictimsofpatriarchalculture.Inthenovel,theauthorcriticizesracediscriminationbydescribingtheoppressionofblackpeoplebyracists.ThefirstchapterintroducesthesigningoftheCivilRightsActbyPresidentJohnsonwhichhelpsdecreasebutnoteradicateracismordiscrimination.KiddincorporatesracerelationsintothenovelfictionalizesthepoliticalandsocialrealitiesofAmericanSouthin1964.Itmentionsmanyinequalitiesforblackpeopleinthenovel.ReverendMartinLutherKinggetarrestedforwantingtoeatinarestaurantforwhitepeople;everytimearumorgetgoingaboutagroupofNegroescomingtowarshipinthechurch,thedeaconsstandlock-armsacrossthechurchstepstoturnthemaway.“WelovethemintheLord”,theMinisterGeraldsays,“buttheyhadtheirownplaces.”(Kidd,2002:30)Infact,theCivilRightsActmakeswhitesouthernersanxiousthattheirwayoflifewouldbethreatenedifmorerightsaregrantedtoAfricanAmericansleadstoever-presentracialtensionthatappearsinthenovel.ThethreewhitemenheadedbyFranklinPoseywhobullyRosaleenwhenshesetsouttovotestandfortheKuKluxKlan(K.K.K.),thegroupofracisminSouthAmerica1950sand1960s.TheycallpoliceandarrestRosaeen,hittinghertothepolice‟sbeard.Rosaleenissenttothehospitaltostitchherheadandinthehospital,airconditionerspokedoutfromthewindowsinthewhitesection,butthereisnothingbutelectricfansmovingthehotairfromoneplacetoanotherintheblacksection.WhenLilyridesintotownwithZach,oneofZach‟sfriendsthrowsabottleatthewhiteman.Zachandhisfriendsarearrestedfornotrevealingwhichboythrowsthebottle.ThoughZachisagoodperson,thepoliceseehimasablackboy,soheistakenintoprisonasRosaleenimmediately.DifferentfromRosaleen,ZachhasthesupportofawhitelawyerClaytonForrest,afriendofBoatwrightsistersandheisreleasedsoon.ButZach‟sarrestleadstoMay‟ssuicidethatwhohasashadowofchildhoodforhertwinsisterAprildiedwhenshewasyoung.Aprilalsoisthevictimofracediscrimination.Whentheywereeleven,theyboughtice-creamsinthemarketbutrefusedtoeatinsidetheshopwiththewhitechildrenbytheowneroftheshopandherice-creamdroppedwhenhepulledApriltothedoor.Aprilcriedthatitwasunfairandgotdepressedterriblysincethen.Atlast,herdepressionmadehershotherselftodeathwhichgreatlyimpactMaywhoissosensitive.ThoughLilyisnotaracist,shehastheprejudicetoblackpeopleinherentlyasawhitegirl.Forexample,shethinksthatasawhiteperson,sheissmarterthanblackpeople;shethinksofherselfasnaturallysmarterthanRosaleendespitesheisachildandRosaleenisagrownwomanwithmuchmorelifeexperiences.Sheissurprisedthat30 AugustissointelligentandculturedbecauseT.Raytellsherthatblackwomenarenotsmart.Nevertheless,LilyrespectsandfeelsdevotedtoAugustandthisrespectanddevotionchipsawayherinnateracismandprejudice.Muchtohersurprise,LilyfindsthatZachisacharming,handsomeAfricanAmericanboy.AsachildinSylvan,Lilylearnsracismfromotherschoolchildrenthatblackboyscouldnotbehandsomebecausethefeaturesoftheirfacesaresodifferentfromthoseofwhiteboys.WhensherealizesthatthisisnottruewithZach,sheknowsherthoughtisirrationalandracist.4.2.2TheHarmoniousRaceRelationshipsKiddrepresentssomeharmoniousrelationshipsinthenovelwhichimpliesthetrendofracialdiversityinAmerica.TheauthortellsreadersthattheblackpeoplecouldliveinharmonywiththewhitesthroughLily‟sexperiences.ThelovebetweenLilyandRosaleentranscendsthecoloroftheirskin.Asamotherlessgirl,LilytakesRosaleenashersurrogatemotherwhoistheonlyonecaresandprotectsherandsherisksherlifeandfreedomrescuingRosaleenfromthejail.TheyaccompanywitheachotheruntiltheyarriveatTiburonwheretheyfindmoresistersandmothers.However,inTiburon,shecomesuponafewlarge,activefemalecommunities.TheBoatwrightsisterssupporteachotherinawaythatLilyhasneverexperienced.Notonlydotheyloveeachotherunconditionally,buttheyalsoacceptandcompensateforoneanother‟sfaultsandgiveoneanotherhelpandlove.Fromthiscommunity,Lilylearnsaboutbeingamemberofasupportivefamily.BeingaroundtheBoatwrightsteachesLilylearnshowtobeasupportivesistertootherwomen.TocaptureAugust‟slove,LilywillinglyperformsanytasksAugustaskshertodo,suchastakingcareofthebees.Lilyhasneverseensuchastrongcommunityofwomen,norhassheeverparticipatedinamystical,self-createdreligionsuchastheonepracticedinAugust‟shome.Asacharacter,Augustisthelivingsymbolofthesenewfeelings,sensations,andexperiencesforLily.TheBoatwrightsisters,thedaughtersofMaryacceptLilyasamemberofthemthoughsheisawhitegirl.Lilyfinallygetswhatsheislongingfor.“Allthesemothers,Ihavemoremothersthananyeightgirlsoffthestreet.”(Kidd,2002:302)ZachandAugusthelpLilyunderstandthepowerofchoice.Zachwantsbecomealawyer,andAugustisabeekeeper.BothofthembelieveinthemselvesandintheirabilitytotranscendtherolesAmericansocietyhaschosenfromthem.Ratherthansimplyaccepttheirfates,ZachandAugustdecidedtoworktowardachievingtheirdreams.LilyhasneverheardofanAfricanAmericanbecomingalawyer,muchthesameasshehadneverheardofanAfricanAmericanwomanrunningahoneyfarmbeforemeetingAugust.JustasZachsays,”Wecan‟tthinkofchangingourskin,changetheworld—that‟showwegottathink.”(Kidd,2002:216)31 Atthattime,thesocietywouldneverhaveallowedablackmantobecomeromanticallyinvolvedwithawhitewoman.LilynaivelyignoresthesocialproblemsthatherloveforZachmightcause,evenasZachrealizesthattheyprobablycanneverbetogetherintheracistAmericaofthattime.Buttheyexpresstheirfeelingsfroeachother,promisingthattheywilltrytofindawaytobetogetherinthefuture.TheauthorexpressesherwishesthroughLily,“whitepeopleandcoloredpeoplegetalong….everybodybeingcolorlesstogetherisabetterplan.”(Kidd,2002:209)4.3AJourneyofSearchingforLoveLoveisaneternalthemeinliteratureworks.Thedefinitionofloveisbroad.Theconnotationofloveisdiversifiedindifferentcontext.Lovecanbeemotionbetweenmenandwomen;lovealsocomesfromfriendsandfamilies.Theprotagonist,Lilyissearchingformotherlylove,butshefindsmoreintheBoatwright‟sbeefarm.Inthenovel,Kiddshowsusapictureofloveinbroadsense.Ecofeministcriticismisboth“ecological”and“feminine”.Itdeconstructstheideologicalroot—anthropocentrism,promotingreturntonatureandconstructspiritualecology.Heideggerproposestheecologicalsubject“poeticresidence”whichcomesfromthepoetryofGermanypoetHolderlin.(Shi,2007)Poeticresidencemeansanewlife-styleofhumanbeings,thatistosay,manliveinharmonywithnature.Poeticresidenceistheideallifestyleandtheexpectationoftheauthor.Withtherapiddevelopmentofindustryandtechnology,humanbeingsliveinspiritualdesert,alienatedfromnature,eventootherpeople,losinghealthypersonalityandgoodnature.Facingthesituationofalienationrelationshipofmanandnature,manandman,theonlyhoperestsonreturningtonature.Mother‟sdeath,father‟sabuseandRosaleenbeingtreatedunjustlymakeLilyescapefromthehorribleplacetofindanew“roof”tohaveanewlife.IntheSecretLifeofBees,theauthorpresentsusaparadisethroughLily‟sjourneyofsearchingforlove.InWaldenPond,Thoreausaysthathefeelsmagicalfreedomlivinginnature,asifheisapartofitandeverytrichoporeabsorbshappinessfromnature.(Thoreau,2004,citedinShi,2007)Ontheirwayofescaping,LilyandRosaleenspendthenightrestingonthecreekbed.Theyeatthecantaloupesforfoodandscoopwaterwithhandstodrink,notcaringaboutalgaeortadpolesorwhetherthecowsusethecreekfortoilet.(Kidd,2002:51)LilyandRosaleensleepafieldpresentwomen‟scloserelationshipwithnature.Asecofeministsstatethatmentakenatureashuntinggroundwhoareenemiesofnature,whilewomenliveinharmonywithnature.Theconnectionsbetweenwomenandnaturemakewomenregardnatureashome.Theylovenatureandvaluelifethattheyseeeverythinginnatureasthesamewithhumanbeings.Inthenovel,Lilyexplainswhyshelovesnaturesomuch.“NexttoShakespeare,IloveThoreaubest.Mrs.32 HenrymadeusreadportionsofWaldenPond,andafterward,I„dhadfantasiesofgoingtoaprivategardenwhereT.Raywouldneverfindme.IstartedappreciatingMotherNature,whatshe‟ddonewiththeworld.InmymindshelookedlikeEleanorRoosevelt.”(Kidd,2002:57)Here,Lilyregardsnatureas“Mother”fornaturelikesabenevolentandnurturingmotherwhogiveshercomfortandcaress.Sinceshewasyoung,thepeachfarmishersheltereverytimeT.RaymaltreatsherandtheguiltyfeelingsofshootinghermotheroverwhelmsherWhenshewakebesidethecreekinabedofkudzuvines,seeingtheprettysightthatalargemistoffloatedalongthewateranddragonflies,iridescentblueones,dartedbackandforthliketheywerestitchinguptheair,sheforgetstheheavyfeelingshehascarriedabouthermother‟sabandoning.Sincebeatenbythewhitemen,Rosaleenisthinandpallid,andhereyesdulllikethelightareknockedoutofthem.Whenshewalksonpuddlesandlooksatthedrownedsky,sheletstherainfallintohermouth.Itseemsthatsheisreturningtoherselfaftertherainwash.Therainlikescatholiconthathealsherbothphysicallyandspiritually.ThebeefarmwhereLilyfindsherlongingmotherlyloveisaparadiseandthesymbolofnaturearoundwhicharelargetractsofgrass,forest,flowersandrivers.Hereisaparadiseforanimalsandinsects:beesshuttlebackandforthintheflowerstogatherhoney,birdsfindfoodinthewoods.“Thesisterslovedbirds,therewasaconcretebird-bathandtonsoffeeders—hollowed-outgourdsandrowsofbigpineconessittingeverywhere,eachonesmearedwithpeanutbutter.”(Kidd,2002:80)Turtlesplopoffintotheriverattimes.Carolinajasmine,chive,dillweedandlemonbalmgrowaround“theLostDiamondCity”—thepinkhousethattheBoatwrightsistersliveinwherethesmellcouldknockyouover.Theornamentsinthehousearesimpleandnatural;severalpiecesofwaxedwoodenfurniture,thestatueofblackMadonnawhichsymbolizesloveandpowerandthearomasofhoneyintheair.Thesistersliveasimplelifebybee-keepingtosupportthemselves.Thebeefarmistheparadiseofloveandthesistersaretheembodimentofangelswhogivethemotherlessgirl,Lily,loveandsupport.TheytakeLilyinregardlessofthecolorofherskin.NotonlydoesLilyfindtraceabouthermother,butalsoshegetsmoremotherlylovefromthesistersandthedaughtersofMary.Atlast,Lilyrealizesthathermotherisarealandflawedpersonjustassheiswhowouldmakemistakes,soisherfather.Shefinallyforgiveshermother‟sabandoning,herownfaultsinshootingDeborah,evenherfather‟sabuse.Loveissopowerfulthatimproveseverybody.Inmourningliketherivermoves,sheletsthepain,anger,guiltandfrustrationflowdownhillandoutofherlife.4.4SummaryEcofeminismadvocatesredefininghumanculture,changingthestatusofwomenas“others”,awakingman‟sconsciousnessofholismandequalityofmenandwomentoestablisha33 harmoniousanddevelopmentalsociety,manandman,manandnatureliveinharmony.TheoppressionofpatriarchalsystemleadstoDeborah‟stragiclifewhichmakesLilylosesmother‟sloveandherfatherturnsoutangeronher.TheabsenceoflovemakesLilydeterminetoescapefromthehorriblehouseandfindsanew“roof”tobeginanewlife.ThepeachfarmbecomestheparadiseofLilyformourninghermotherandescapingT.Ray‟spunishment.Natureisthesourceofloveandhappiness.Heideggerputsforward“poeticresidence”toadvocateshumanbeingsreturningtonatureandspiritualhome,stayingawayfromthefuryofindustrialculture.Thebeefarmisthesymbolofnaturearoundwherearegrass,forestandflowers;peopleliveinharmonywithnature.ThedaughtersofMaryhelpandloveeachotherwhogiveLilythemotherlylovethatshehasbeenlongedfor.TheybreakthesocialrulesofracismandtakeLilyin,helpingheroutoftheguiltofshootingDeborah,reconcilingherhatredtoT.Ray‟smaltreatment.Loveandnaturearesopowerfulthatcaneliminatehatredandletsoulgetsalvation.34 ChapterFiveEcofeministMetaphorsofImageriesinTheSecretLifeofBeesIntheSecretLifeofBees,Kiddpresentsimageriesthatappearandreappearthroughoutthetextwhicharefullofconnotationsandembodyecofeministthoughts.Thischapteranalyzesthemetaphorsofthesecretlifeofbees,andthemoonwithfemininetraits,andtheblackMaryandWailingWallwhichrecordthesufferingsofblackpeople.5.1TheSecretLifeofBeesEcofeministsbelievethatwomenandnatureareconnectedinphysical,forexample,theprocessofwomen‟smenstruation,pregnancyandbearingandraisingchildrenissimilartothenaturalcycle.Womenandnaturesharethesameroleofmotherwhichmakeswomenclosertonaturethanmenandexperiencemoreconnectionswithnature.AmericanecofeministSusanGriffinarguesthatwomenandnaturehaveontologicalconnections.(Nangong,2011:177)Thereisanepigraph,orquotation,fromabookaboutbeesprecedeseachchapterthatstitchtogetherthechaptersofTheSecretLifeofBeesandrelatingthembacktotheoverarchingmotifofbees.Theseepigraphsgivereadersapreviewofthechapter‟scontents.Infact,TheSecretLifeofBeesbeginswithLily‟sdiscoveryofbeesinherbedroom.BeesserveasLily‟sguidesthroughoutthenovel.TheylandonthestatemapshehastackeduptothewallleadinghertoTiburonandtothetruthabouthermother.Beessuggestrebirth,exploration,andpersonalgrowth.AlongwiththeDaughtersofMary,Lilyrubshoneyalloverthestatuetopolishandpreserveit.Thebeesandthehoneyhavealreadysymbolicallybeenrubbedalloverherbody.Throughherexperienceswithbeekeeping,Lilyhasbeenabletoconfrontherangertowardhermotherandresentmenttoherfather.ThebeesteachLilytoloveandbeloved,tofeelthepowerofreligionorspirituality.AttheBoatwrighthouse,surroundedbybees,Lilygrowsintotheintelligent,sensitive,well-adjustedperson.Ononehand,thetitle“thesecretlifeofbees”symbolizesthesecretlifeofLily.“Ilovedtheideaofbeeshavingasecretlife,justliketheoneIwasliving.”(Kidd,2002:148)ThefactthatLilyliveswithblackwomen,asawhitegirl,arunaway,andacriminalofsorts,meansherlifewithAugustmustremainasecret;justlikethesecretlifeofthebeesthatgoesoninsidethehive.LilybelievesthatthemotherhoodMaryoffersherisparalleltothesupportandloveshegetsfromAugustandhercommunityofwomen,asupportthatissecrettotheworld.ThesecretlifethatbeeshaveissimilartothesecretlifeofLilyOwens.Lilylearnsaboutthebees‟secretsfromAugust,whilewelearnaboutLily‟ssecretsfromherownnarration.JustasthebeesproducethesweethoneythatAugustissoattachedto,Lilycreatesabittersweetcoming-of-agestoryabouta35 younggirlwhofindsstrength,love,andfamily.WhenthebeescoverLily,andshesurrendersherselftotheirlove,Lilybecomesconnectedtothebees;sheisabletobecome“one”withthemonadeepviscerallevelandtoexperiencethefeelingoflovingthemcompletely.Inthisstateofsurrender,sheconnectsthebeesatAugust‟sfarmtothebeesthathadarrivedinherroominsylvan,backatT.Ray‟shouse.Forthefirsttimeinthenovel,Lilysuspectsthataspiritualforce,likeGod,hadsentthebeestorescueherfromT.Ray.HerrealizationofthisspiritualpowerspeakstohowtheinfluenceoftheBoatwrighthousehaschangedthewaysheviewstheworldandtheforcesatworkinsidetheworld.TheconnectionshefeelsbetweenherselfandthebeesismuchliketheconnectionshefindsbetweenherselfandthewomenofAugust‟sworld.Theseconnectionsempowerher,givingherstrengthandconfidence.Ontheotherhand,thesecretlifeofbeesisthemetaphorofhumansociety.Interdependenceisabasicelementofhumanbeingsandhumansociety.LilyandRosaleenareinterdependentthroughoutthenovel.RosaleenoftendependsonLilyforleadershipanddirection.Yet,LilyoftendependsonRosaleenforstability,love,andmothering.Mayseemstobethemostdependentcharacterinthenovelduetothegreatpainthatshebears.Yet,aftershelearnsofZach‟sarrest,shebeginstomakeindependentdecisionsregardingherfuture.Asanextremeexampleofthisindependence,sheendsuptakingherownlife.Thebeesdemonstrateanon-humanformofinterdependence.Atonepointinthenovel,AugustshowsLilywhathappenstothehivewhenthequeenisabsent.Thebeeslaydormanteggsandultimatelysitaroundwithoutanysortofpurpose.Withoutthequeen,thebeesarerendereduseless;theyareextremelydependentonthequeen.Atthesametime,thequeendependsonherattendantstotakecareofthehive.Lilyhaslearnedoftheimportanceofthefemalepowerstructureinthebeecommunity:howthequeenbeeisdotedonbyawholeteamofcompanions,howshelaystheeggsthatbecomeeverysingleotherbeeinthehive,andhowthisqueenbeeisthemotherofthousands.AugustteachesLilytheimportantlessonsofbeekeepingwhichreflectgoodpracticesoflifeingeneral.Forinstance,sheteachesLilytomanageheranger—nottoswatthebees,forangryactionsarecounterproductivewithbees.ShetellsLilytoactasthoughsheknowswhatsheisdoing,nottobeanidiot.Suchlessonsasthesearetolerablygoodrulestoliveby.Alloftheworkerbeesdependuponthequeen‟sexistence,ortheydonotappropriatelyfunction.WhenoneofAugust‟squeenbeesdisappears,sheneedstoreplaceitinordertosavealloftheattendantbees.Similarly,thequeenbeedependsuponherattendantstokeepthehivefunctioning.Thebees‟interdependencemirrorstheinterdependenceofhumankind.WhenMaypassesaway,Augustdrapesthehivesasasignofrespectandmourning.Lilylearnsthestoryofthefirstbeekeeperandhowhisbeescamebacktolife.Beesseemtohaveaninterconnectionwithdeath.Itseemsthatallhumanshavesuchaninterconnectionaswell,36 whetherornottheywanttoadmitit.Inthenovel,beehivesservesasasymbolicparalleltothecommunityAugusthascreatedinthepinkhouse.Beeslive,work,andproducehoneyinbeehives.AsinAugust‟scommunity,femalebeesdominatethebeehiveandthequeenbeerulesovereverything.Thequeenbeeisthemotherofeverysingleotherbee,becausethebeehiveisaverysensitiveorganism,thebeeshavedevelopedmanymechanismstoprotecttheirhome.Thebeehivejustlikesourhomeland,theearth;everyoneinthesocietyisinterdependent.Weallhaveourownplaceintheworld;eachperformsitsownfunctions.Theauthortriestotellusthateveryoneintheworldisonequalfootingandtheonlywayofsustainabledevelopmentistoeliminatethepatriarchysystem,realizingtheharmoniousrelationshipofmanandman,manandnature.5.2TheBlackMaryGermanytheologianElisabethWendellmakesclearthatwomenandnaturearediscriminatedbymalereligionrulers.ShethinksthattheBiblesacrificeswomentodevelopChristianhierarchysystemthatweshouldlearntobecriticaltotheBible.(Wendell,1995:88,citedinNangong,2011:181)InTheSecretLifeofBees,thewomenhavetheirownspiritualityoftheirownregardlessofwhetherthatspiritualitycomesfromorganizedreligion,fromone‟spastorfromone‟sownimagination.LikeLily,heronlyspiritualsustenanceisherdeadmotherandRosaleennevergoestochurchherselfwhomakesupareligionforherself,amixtureofnatureandancestorworship.WhentheygettoTiburon,theyfindanotherkindofreligion,worshipofastatue:theblackMary.ThisisthereligionofthedaughtersofMary.Infact,thestatueisjustthefigureheadoffanoldship,butthepeopleneededcomfortandrescue,sowhentheylookatit,theyseeMary,sothespiritofMarytakesitover.(Kidd,2002:141)KiddwantstoemphasizethespiritofgoddessthroughtheDaughtersofMary.TheydonotworshipgodortheSonJesusChrist.TheyworshipMary,achainedblackMarystatue.SheissentbyGodtohelpAfricanAmericansgettingfreedomandequality.ThedaughtersofMaryarenotaconventionalreligiouscommunity.Instead,theyfunctionasasocialgroup,agatheringofclosefriends,asupportgroup,andaspiritualclub.Together,theycelebrateafemininespiritualpowerandhonortheirhistoryasdecedentsofslaves.TheblackMaryservesseveralfunctionsinthenovel.Asthepicture,itsymbolizesmothersandmothersurrogates.LilycarriesaroundawoodenpictureoftheblackMary,whichshefindsamongsomeobjectsthatoncebelongedtohermother.ThispictureliterallysymbolizesDeborahtoLily,andeventuallythepictureleadsLilytoAugust,ablackwomanwhowillbecomeasurrogatemother.ThroughAugust,LilywilllearnaboutMary,whomAugustconsiderstobethemotherofallofhumanity.Asastatue,the37 blackMarysymbolizestheimportanceofhavingfaithandbelievinginsomethinglargerthanone‟sself.Moreimportant,Lilythinksofthestatueastheembodimentofastronganddefiantwoman.Sofar,onlyRosaleenhasinspiredLilytobemorepowerfulandindependent.Lilyhasneverhadanyotherfemalerolemodels,sincehermotherdiedwhenLilywasfourandshelivedisolatedwithT.Ray.ArrivinginTiburon,Lilyrealizesthatshehasthechancetoactinanywayshepleases,tobecomethepersonshehasalwayswantedtobeandshegrowsintoastrong,confidentyoungwomanthroughherexperienceswiththestatueandwithbeekeeping.5.3TheMoonandtheWailingWallTheimageryof“moon”appearsalotinthenovel.ToLily,themooncontainsverydifferentmeanings.“themoonwasmyheart”,“atleast,wegotafullmoontonight”,“Ihavemoremothers,they‟remoonsshiningoverme”.Everyonehasfragmentandregrets,thisislifeitself.Women,likethemoonaresubjecttothechangesofbeingcrescentandfull,cloudyandclearthatistheprocessofmaturityforwomen.Lilyeverdreamsthatthemoonisbrokenandfalldownfromtheskywhichimpliesherabsenceofmotherlylove.Atlast,shefindsmotherloveonthebeefarmandtheylikemoonsshiningoverher.Inthenovel,themooniscomparedasmotherandgivenfemininefeatures.TheWailingWallinthenovelcomesfromtheWailingWallinJerusalemwheretheJewishpeoplegotomournanddealwithsuffering;theywritetheirprayersonscrapsofpaperandtucktheminthewall.(Kidd,2002:97)AugustandJunecomeupwiththeideatobuildsuchawailingwallfortheirsensitivesister,Maytooutpourhersadness.ThewallbecomesMay‟sbosomfriend.Everytimesheisupset,shegoestothewallandwritesdownhersadness,tuckingitintothestonecracks.LikethewailingwallofJewishpeople,May‟swallrecordsthesufferingsofblackpeoplebeingoppressedandasslaves.5.4SummaryTheimageriesofthe“moon”,“bees”and“blackMary”embodiesthefemininestanceofTheSecretLifeofBees.Themoonisfemininewhichrepresentscloseconnectionsofwomenandnature.Withtheleadofwhitemen,humanbeingssetfootonthemoonforsocalledtechnologicaldevelopmentwhichistheoppressionofnatureinreality.ThelifestyleofbeesislikematriarchalsocietyinwhichtheQueenBeeisthesupremeruler.Allworksaredonebyfemalebees.Theonlymale,dronecandonothingbutmatewithQueenBee.Thisisakindoflifeconditionofself-sufficiencyforwomenthatdeconstructandrocentrism.TheBlackMaryandtheWailingWallrecordthesufferingsofAfricanAmericans,accusingracism.38 ChapterSixConclusionTheSecretLifeofBeesisatouchingmodernclassicalnovelwhichpresentsprofoundecofeministawareness.Asastoryofcoming-of-age,thenoveltakesthefirstpersonnarrativetotellthestoryfromtheeyesandtoneofayounggirlthatmakestheplotsimplebuttheasiertakentoheart.Thenovelshowsapictureofthesociallifein20century‟sAmerica:nature,womenandtheblackpeoplelivingundertheoppressionofpatriarchy.Theauthoradvocateshumanbeingsreturningtonatureandcreatingafree,equalandharmonioushomethroughLily‟sjourneyofsearchingforlove.Basedonecofeminism,thisthesisstudiesthecharacterizationofthenovelandexploresthesignificanceofthethemesandimageriesinthenovel;consequentlyrevealtheubiquitousecofeministicthoughtsofthestory.Theauthorcreatesseveraltypicalfemalecharacterswithecofeministawarenessthatlovenaturedeeplyandsubvertthepatriarchalsystem.NomatterLilyorBoatwrightSisters,theirattitudetonatureembodiesthecloseconnectionbetweenwomenandnature.Theyrespectallnaturallivesandcareabouteachotherandtheyunitetostruggleagainsttheoppressionofpatriarchy.RosaleenandBoatwrightSisters,eventheDaughtersofMary,theirloveandcaretoLilyandDeborahriseaboveraceandclass.Thecommunityoffemaledemonstratesthegreatpowerofwomen.Theimageriesof“moon”,“queenbee”and“BlackMary”withobviousfemalenessalsoembodytheecofeministicconsciousness.ToLily,themoonlikesmotherwhichalwaysgivesherstrengthwhensheisupset.“BlackMary”isthemotherofallthewomeninthenovel.ThepictureofBlackMarygivesLilycluestofindhermother‟straceandthefemalecommunityworshipstheBlackMaryastheirGoddess.Sheisthemotherofthespiritsupportingthosepeoplegroanunderoppression.BeinganAfricanAmerican,Kiddwitnessesthepersecutionsofblackpeoplebyracistsin1960s.InTheSecretLifeofBeestheauthordemonstratestheirrationalityofracismbyportrayingblackandwhitecharacterswithdignityandhumanity.TheCivilRightsActdoesnoteliminateracediscrimination;insteaditintensifiesthehatredofraciststoblackpeople.Nevertheless,KidddosenottrytoarouseracialhatredeventhoughMay‟sDeath,Zach‟sbeingsenttojail.ShetellspeopleinpeaceablemoodthatthewhitesandtheblackswouldliveinharmonythroughLily‟sstory.Inthenovel,AugustbuildsWailingWallforMaytorecordhersufferingswhichrevealsthebitterexperiencesandsilentcomplaintofblackpeople.August,anintelligentandeducatedblackwoman;Zach,abrilliantandaspiring,boy,andkind-heartedMay,independentJune.Kiddcreatesmanyoutstandingblackcharacterstooverturntheprejudicethatthewhitepeoplehave.AsRosemaryRutherpointsoutinherNewWoman/NewEarth,“therecanbenoliberation39 forwomenandnosolutiontotheecologicalcrisiswithinasocietywhosefundamentalmodelofrelationshipscontinuestobeoneofdomination.Theymustunitethedemandsofthewomen‟smovementwiththoseofecologicalmovementtoenvisionaradicalreshapingofthebasicsocioeconomicrelationsandtheunderlyingvaluesofthissociety.”(Ruther,1975:204)Attheendofstory,LilygetsridoftheoppressionofherfatherwhoagreesherstayingatthepinkhouseandliveshappilywiththeblacksistersandZachwhowantstobealawyergetsintotheschoolforwhitepeoplewithLily.Maybetheendingisidealized,butitexpressestheauthor‟ssocialstandpointandwellwishing:theonlywayofconstructingaharmoniousenvironmentinwhichmanandman,manandnaturecouldliveinharmonywouldbetoeliminatethepatriarchysystem,getridofallkindsofinequalities.Astheearthistheonlyhomelandofhumanbeings,humanbeingsshouldbreakthroughtherestrictionsofdualismtoestablishaharmoniousecologicalenvironmentandenjoypoeticresidentlifebyreturningtonature,reconstructingecologicalandspiritualhome.40 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AcknowledgementsFirstofall,Ishallgivemysincereanddeepestgratitudetomysupervisor,ProfessorSunHuaxiangwhogivesmethemosthelpinmythesiswriting.Ihavebenefitedfromhisprofoundknowledgebyparticipatinginhisliterarytheoriescourses.Hisvaluableinstructions,patientguidanceandgreatencouragementhavegreatlycontributedtothecompletionofthisthesis.WithoutProfessorSun‟shelp,Iwouldhavenotaccomplishedthethesisatall.Secondly,IwanttogivemyappreciationtootherprofessorsandlecturerswhohavegivenmeknowledgeableandvaluablelecturesinmyM.A.study,especiallytoProfessorZhangShengzhenwhoselecturesfirsthelpmeknowaboutecologismandleadingmetothestudyofecofeminism.Inaddition,Ialsowanttothankmyclassmatesandroommateswhohelpmealotinstudyandlife.Wehavestudiedtogetherforthreeyearsandwealwayscareandencourageeachotherlikesisters.Lastbutnotleast,Iwanttogivemyeverlastingthankfulnesstomyparentsandmydearestfriend,LuXiaolei.Theirconstantencouragementandsupporthavehelpedmeovercomeallthedifficultiesinthestudy.Allinall,IwanttothankallthepeoplethathavehelpedandencouragedmeinthestudyandduringmylifeandIwillkeeponstudyinghard.45