Nature, Identity, and Narrative Form in Margaret Atwood’s Surfacing: An Ecofeminist Analysis

Abstract

This paper explores Margaret Atwood's Surfacing from an ecofeminist perspective and the link between women and nature in a patriarchal society. It is considered the representation of the oppression of women and nature and moreover shows how they are both being exploited in patriarchal societies. The research also readdresses the limits of previous studies and it focuses on themes and narrative form in previous studies by considering the use of first-person narration, fragmented memories, and silence to construct the protagonist's ecofeminist identity and to express her feelings of isolation and trauma. Employing a qualitative textual analysis method and the authors suggest that narrative form is an important way to give voice ecofeminist concerns. The results indicate that the protagonist's reengagement with nature helps her to heal and reflect, allowing her to stand up against patriarchal norms. Ultimately, this paper reveals that Surfacing does not only offers ecofeminist themes but also narrative approaches to enhance the understanding of the connection between the exploitation of nature and the oppression of women.

Keywords: Ecofeminism, Female Identity, Patriarchy, Nature, Narrative Techniques, Memory Fragmentation.