An Interpretation of Women’s Plights in Runaway from the Perspective of Ecofeminism

Abstract

Alice Munro, the "master of the contemporary short story” and 2013 Nobel Prize for Literature laureate, often depicts nature and
focuses on women’s life journeys in her works. With nature and women being key elements, this thesis uses ecofeminism to study Munro’s
Runaway. The story follows Carla, a rural woman, as she tries and fails to escape life’s plights. The thesis has five parts: an introduction covering Munro, Runaway, research status, and study significance; an introduction to the ecofeminism theoretical framework; an analysis of the
interdependence between women and nature, where animals symbolize Carla’s plights; an exploration of how patriarchy causes Carla’s multiple plights, including self-identity crises; and a discussion on women’s escape routes—mental and economic autonomy. By analyzing Carla’s
plights, the thesis explores causes, solutions, and prompts reflection on contemporary women’s situations, advocating for their independence
and harmonious gender and human-nature relations.