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【Abstract】Thomas Hardy （1840-1928） is an important English novelist in the nineteenth century. The Return of the Native is one of the most representative novels written by Hardy. In this novel， Thomas Hardy puts human being’s fate into nature and sets the fates of women into their attitudes toward nature.
【Key Words】The Return of the Native; Thomas Hardy; Eco-feminism
【作者簡介】李营，广州工商学院。
In the history of British literature， Thomas Hardy （June 1840- January 1928） was one of the most renowned poets and novelists. The Return of the Native is Hardy’s sixth published novel. Since the publication of The Return of the Native in 1878， the novel received fairly mixed debate. Critics interpreted this work from different perspectives. This thesis is an attempt to explore the relationship between women and nature in The Return of the Native from an Eco-feminist perspective. It sheds some light on today’s environmental problems and female problems and construct the harmony between human and nature and the harmony between human themselves.
Ⅰ. Eustacia’s Conflict with Nature
At the beginning of the novel， Eustacia is depicted as an integral and inseparable part of Egdon Heath. However， as to Eustacia herself， she regards Egdon as her prison. She was not born in Egdon Heath， but in a big city called Budmouth. Grown up in the care and cultivation of her parents， Eustacia lived a better life. After the death of her parents， however， she came to the heath with her grandpa. So in one sense， she hates Egdon Heath. Since she is accustomed to city life， she can’t find her role in the heath. In other words， she is just out of tune with the heath and the local residents， which makes her caught up in the mire of loneliness. Eustacia can’t adapt herself to living here. So it is inevitable that a conflict comes into being between her own personality and the natural and social environments. Even the people in Egdon Heath consider her as a witch. Obviously， it is Eustacia that intensifies the conflict between herself and nature.
“Eustacia Vye was the raw material of a divinity. On Olympus she would have done well with a little preparation. She had the passions and instincts which make a model goddess， that is， those which make not quite a model woman” （Hardy， 58）. In fact， it is impossible for her to become a model based on her unconventional personality and her incompatibility with Egdon Heath. She is a curious， exotic collection of associations which combine to create a sense of incongruity that reflects her alienated position in the heath. It is unable for her to keep harmony with her surroundings， even her lover and her husband. In order to escape from the environment， she abandoned Wildeve， trying every means to gain Clym’s love in the hope that he would take her to Paris. She chooses Clym as a means to escape from the heath. However， the marriage with Clym does not satisfy her desire. Instead， it brings her anguish and sadness， and even pushes her to the verge of despair. Finally， Eustacia eloped with Wildeve but both of them were drawn in the rainy night， and ended up dead.
【Key Words】The Return of the Native; Thomas Hardy; Eco-feminism
【作者簡介】李营，广州工商学院。
In the history of British literature， Thomas Hardy （June 1840- January 1928） was one of the most renowned poets and novelists. The Return of the Native is Hardy’s sixth published novel. Since the publication of The Return of the Native in 1878， the novel received fairly mixed debate. Critics interpreted this work from different perspectives. This thesis is an attempt to explore the relationship between women and nature in The Return of the Native from an Eco-feminist perspective. It sheds some light on today’s environmental problems and female problems and construct the harmony between human and nature and the harmony between human themselves.
Ⅰ. Eustacia’s Conflict with Nature
At the beginning of the novel， Eustacia is depicted as an integral and inseparable part of Egdon Heath. However， as to Eustacia herself， she regards Egdon as her prison. She was not born in Egdon Heath， but in a big city called Budmouth. Grown up in the care and cultivation of her parents， Eustacia lived a better life. After the death of her parents， however， she came to the heath with her grandpa. So in one sense， she hates Egdon Heath. Since she is accustomed to city life， she can’t find her role in the heath. In other words， she is just out of tune with the heath and the local residents， which makes her caught up in the mire of loneliness. Eustacia can’t adapt herself to living here. So it is inevitable that a conflict comes into being between her own personality and the natural and social environments. Even the people in Egdon Heath consider her as a witch. Obviously， it is Eustacia that intensifies the conflict between herself and nature.
“Eustacia Vye was the raw material of a divinity. On Olympus she would have done well with a little preparation. She had the passions and instincts which make a model goddess， that is， those which make not quite a model woman” （Hardy， 58）. In fact， it is impossible for her to become a model based on her unconventional personality and her incompatibility with Egdon Heath. She is a curious， exotic collection of associations which combine to create a sense of incongruity that reflects her alienated position in the heath. It is unable for her to keep harmony with her surroundings， even her lover and her husband. In order to escape from the environment， she abandoned Wildeve， trying every means to gain Clym’s love in the hope that he would take her to Paris. She chooses Clym as a means to escape from the heath. However， the marriage with Clym does not satisfy her desire. Instead， it brings her anguish and sadness， and even pushes her to the verge of despair. Finally， Eustacia eloped with Wildeve but both of them were drawn in the rainy night， and ended up dead.