Death of Woman and Nature in The Bluest Eye: An Eco-Feministic Study

Abstract

Eco-feminism constitutes a significant dimension of eco-criticism and ecological studies within the framework of postcolonial discourse. Its central aim is to investigate the complex interrelations between women and the natural world, emphasizing their fundamental connection to the environment. From a postcolonial lens, eco-feminism endeavors to address the oppression faced by women, nature, and the environment, particularly in the context of environmental injustices, rather than merely advocating for the preservation of environmental ethics. The environmental ethics articulated by Rousseau can be linked to the concept of environmental justice, which is intricately associated with racial politics. Theme of racism and environmental degradation in the era of colonizers can be frequently traced by scholars in African-American literature, especially in the writings of Toni Morrison. Eco-feminism is predicated on the understanding that the ideologies that facilitate the oppression of women based on race, class, gender, and sexuality are the same ideologies that rationalize the subjugation of nature. Thus, women, the environment, and nature emerge as three essential elements of eco-feminism. In this regard, the present paper intends to examine Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye through an eco-feminist lens, concentrating on the core tenets of eco-feminism. This paper will also explore how women and nature established a deep connection to each other where both share their long-suppressed history in male- dominated society.