Eco-Feminism and Harriet Spofford
Samantha McCullough
Unprivileged Eco-feminist Society
In patriarchal culture, women and nature are considered second class citizens, several steps below their male counterparts. When describing women, they are often depicted as mother nature types, weak and vulnerable. “Eco-feminism explores the connection between the oppression of women and the despoliation of the natural environment.” (Marshall p. 49) American 19th century author, Harriet Prescott Spofford uses Eco-feminism to demonstrate woman's unprivileged ranking in society. “Circumstance” is a short story about a woman who is savagely treated by nature but also it is about her deep connection with nature. Before her attack, the protagonist was enjoying a spiritual connection with nature. She felt “... the companionship of growth not sufficiently dense to band against her, the sweet home feeling of a young and tender wintery wood.” (Showalter p. 37) Her attitude is environmentally sensitive and knowledgeable, she appreciates natural beauty and she knows how to make use of it to enhance the pleasures of her life. Here she is plainly described as mother nature, feeling the love from her 'young and tender' child. She feels for the woods like she does for her baby at home, but the woods, like her child, have not yet grown to their full potential. They are an infant in need of care from their mother, the protagonist. Interestingly though, she has left her actual baby at home, leading readers to think that she is more at home in the woods than in her home with her family. She goes as far to say the woods have 'a sweet home feeling,' which solidifies her character type as a mother of nature. While having her connection with nature, she becomes uneasy because of the setting sun and the darkness gathering around her so she chews on “...a bit of spicy birch,” (Showalter p. 38) to calm her rattled nerves. Many types of tree bark have medicinal benefits, this type of tree bark is often used as a chewing gum or
Unprivileged Eco-feminist Society
In patriarchal culture, women and nature are considered second class citizens, several steps below their male counterparts. When describing women, they are often depicted as mother nature types, weak and vulnerable. “Eco-feminism explores the connection between the oppression of women and the despoliation of the natural environment.” (Marshall p. 49) American 19th century author, Harriet Prescott Spofford uses Eco-feminism to demonstrate woman's unprivileged ranking in society. “Circumstance” is a short story about a woman who is savagely treated by nature but also it is about her deep connection with nature. Before her attack, the protagonist was enjoying a spiritual connection with nature. She felt “... the companionship of growth not sufficiently dense to band against her, the sweet home feeling of a young and tender wintery wood.” (Showalter p. 37) Her attitude is environmentally sensitive and knowledgeable, she appreciates natural beauty and she knows how to make use of it to enhance the pleasures of her life. Here she is plainly described as mother nature, feeling the love from her 'young and tender' child. She feels for the woods like she does for her baby at home, but the woods, like her child, have not yet grown to their full potential. They are an infant in need of care from their mother, the protagonist. Interestingly though, she has left her actual baby at home, leading readers to think that she is more at home in the woods than in her home with her family. She goes as far to say the woods have 'a sweet home feeling,' which solidifies her character type as a mother of nature. While having her connection with nature, she becomes uneasy because of the setting sun and the darkness gathering around her so she chews on “...a bit of spicy birch,” (Showalter p. 38) to calm her rattled nerves. Many types of tree bark have medicinal benefits, this type of tree bark is often used as a chewing gum or