Nature, Female Confinement and Patriarchal Mindset: An Ecofeminist Reading of Eugene O’Neill’s Desire under the Elms in the Light of the Covid-19 Pandemic
Nature, Female Confinement and Patriarchal Mindset: An Ecofeminist Reading of Eugene O’Neill’s Desire under the Elms in the Light of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Summary/Abstract: The present paper examines the affinities between female marginalization and the exploitation of mother nature by the patriarchal system from an ecofeminist approach.The male characters of ONeill’s Desire under the Elms are obsessed with the desire of possessing the farm and winning the heart of Abbie Putnam. Both women and nature are objectified and perceived as commodities and objects of male desire. Starting fromGaard’s criticism of the patriarchal system and its negative impact on women and nature, the present paper draws certain parallelism between the muffled female voices and the over-exploitation of ‘mother nature’ by patriarchal practices. The title of the play is significant as it entails female oscillation between freedom and social constraints. The elms may stand for female freedom in nature away from social suppression. Like the elms which are damaged by pollution and male practices women are affected by patriarchal hegemony. The play has a contemporary dimension because it is relevant to the contemporary context of Covid 19. Indeed, ecofeminists encouraged the protection of nature during quarantine. On the other hand, they condemned domestic violence exercised on women. This paper aims at showing the connection between women and nature and proving that both women and nature are easily affected in moments of crisis. To achieve this conclusion, the paper will be divided into three parts: while the first part will deal with a theoretical framework about ecofeminism,the second part will focus on ecofeminist traces in Desire under the Elms. The last discussion part will approach the play in the context of covid19 pandemic.

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