AN ECOFEMINIST READING AND CRITIQUE OF EDITH WHARTONS' SUMMER (1917) AND CATERINA ALBERT i PARADÍS' SOLITUDE (1905)

Abstract

This study draws upon ecofeminist theory to analyze two early twentieth-century novels, Edith Wharton’s Summer (1917) and Caterina Albert i Paradís’ Solitude (1905). These novels challenge the definition of relationship between women and nature – as nature changes, the female characters change as well. A gendered ecological reading and an ecofeminist critique of these two novels uncovers the power structures and the limitations that rural and natural environments have for women, and how they restrict women’s experience in nature. This project intends to answer the questions: How does Ecofeminism help the reader to see how women perceive and experience nature and the environment differently than men? How useful it is to compare the degradation of nature with the degradation of women in patriarchal and dualistic societies? How does culture influence the way coming-of-age novels portray female characters in relation to nature? The study answers these questions by following an anti-essentialism, anti-dualism and anti-anthropocentrism approach. The comparative reading shows that ecofeminism is a useful approach and demonstrates the inferiority and limitations of women in relation to the environment.