『설득』에 나타난 에코페미니즘 경향

Weaving Threads of Ecofeminism in Persuation

This article examines how Jane Austen weaves threads of Ecofeminism in her 1818 novel Persuasion. The parameters I used to circumscribe the boundaries of Ecofeminism are those cited by Karen J. Warren in her book Ecofeminism: Women, Culture, Nature. Anne Elliot seems almost too perfect to be a traditional Austen heroine. In Persuasion, Austen shows the burlesque social environment in which Anne learns and eventually comes to respect the viewpoints of others and forms her view of life and the people in it. Austin juxtaposes the conceited, image-conscious, insensible family with Anne's opposing qualities of self-deprecation, humility, and sensibility. Anne grows by developing relationships with women outside her family. Austen shows Ecofeminism by having Anne put loyalty to Mrs. Smith above respect for her father's wishes, and in her respect for Nurse Rooke, her admiration for Mrs. Croft, and for her defense of Lady Russell's reputation. Collectively, these relationships show the common interests of intelligent women without respect to their social status and chip away at the foundations of class-based thinking. Austen defends the values and traditions of respect for social norms. Yet, she is subtly subversive in her support of greater social mobility. Through several characters, Austen reflects the potential for upward mobility within society regardless of heritage. Ann Elliot's strong traits of Ecofeminism eventually lead Wentworth to reconsider their relationship that then blossomed into a marriage built on the objective, open-minded thinking of Ecofeminism.