ABSTRACT

A Thousand Splendid Suns is the Afghan American writer Khaled Hossein's second masterpiece which describes two Afghan women Laila and Mariam who suffer from Patriarchal autocracy and struggle with pain for their happy life. Ecofeminism is a combination of the feminist movement and ecological movement. It is believed that there is a natural connection between the oppression of women and the destruction of nature.

In this paper, we will explore what relationship is between women and nature through A Thousand Splendid Suns, and why women are suffering from oppression from the perspective of ecofeminism. By analyzing the main characters and main plots from the perspective of ecofeminism ，this paper aims to make people rethink about social situation profoundly and learn to respect women and nature. In addition, this paper can make people know more about the book and its writer. 

Key Words: women and nature; oppression; ecofeminism

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1A Brief Introduction to Khaled Hosseini and His Novel-1

1.2 Literature Review-2

1.3 A Brief History of Ecofeminism-2

1.4The Significance of This Thesis-3

Chapter Two AN OVERVIEW OF A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS-4

2.1Background of the Story-4

2.1.1 Social background-4

2.1.2 Cultural background-4

2.1.3 Environmental background-5

2.2 Prejudices against Females in the Novel-5

2.2.1 Oppression within family-5

2.2.2 Oppression in social status-6

2.3 Damage to Nature in the Novel-6

Chapter Three ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS-8

3.1 Mariam’s and Laila’s Personalities Viewed in Terms of EcoFeminism-8

3.2The Awakening of Their Self-consciousness-9

3.2.1 Their desires for freedom and equality-9

3.2.2 Their different attitudes towards oppression-9

3.2.3 Their different endings-10

Chapter four INTERPRETATION OF MARIAM’S AND LAILA’S FATE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ECOFEMINISM-11

4.1Relationship Between Women and Nature-11

4.2 The Reasons of Their Different Fate-12

4.2.1 Social reasons-12

4.2.2 Environmental reasons-12

4.2.3 Their own backgrounds-12

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-14

WORKS CITED-16