Abstract: John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath is widely interpreted as a fiction reflecting the social problems in a certain period of American history, and is called an epic of the United States during the Great Depression. Based on eco-feminist theory, this essay gives a detailed analysis of the ecofeminist thought revealed in the novel, and digs into the causes of Steinbeck’s eco-feministic ideas, I the hope that eco-feminist thought may provide some solutions to the environmental and social problems that modern people now face.

Key words: The Grapes of Wrath; John Steinbeck; Eco-feminism

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

  1.1 Brief Introduction to John Steinbeck-1

  1.2 Literature Review of The Grapes of Wrath-3

2. Brief Introduction to Eco-feminism-4

3. Eco-feminism Revealed in The Grapes of Wrath-6

  3.1 Inherent Relationship between Women and Nature-7

    3.1.1 Caring and Sympathetic Ma Joad-7

    3.1.2 Rose of Sharon as Mother Earth-11

  3.2 Man’s Exploitation of the Earth-14

  3.3 Feministic Solutions to Eco-crisis-15

4. Causes of Steinbeck’s Eco-feministic Ideas in His Novel-18

  4.1 His Childhood in Salinas-18

  4.2 The Influence of Friends and Women in His Life-19

5. Conclusion-21

References-23