Critique of Masculinist Encroachment of Land and Nature: An Ecofeministic Perspective in Gift in Green

Abstract

This article unpacks the idea of the critique of masculinist encroachment of land and nature in the novel, Gift in Green by applying eco feministic theories. By showing the male characters such as Dinakaran, Kumaran, Markose and Ambu involving in the so-called developmental works through constructions and the encroachment of the resources of the island turning its agricultural lands into concrete jungles, this article argues that the writer is pungently darting her criticisms against the eco-inimical activities of men just for material gains. By the same token, she shows female characters such as Ponmani, Kunjootan, and Shailaja, Karthiyani, who love and attach themselves with farming, fishing and cultivating. They have passionate attachment with the mother earth. They do not do any harm to the land and the landscape of Aathi. They hate people who come to buy land there. They also do not like people who sell and lease their productive land for money and job. They have special attachment with the water and land of Aathi. They have also protested against the idea of constructing bridge. They also love animals and birds of the island. They are living in a perfect harmony with the nature and its beauty. Female characters are striving and aspiring to keep the ideal of Aathi intact by performing their eco-friendly activities unlike males who are performing eco-inimical activities that finally bring destruction in the island. Hence, Women are seen as being domestic, pious, moral, pure, gentle, kind, graceful, simple and beautiful, have soft corner for the nature  while men are seen as hard-working, encroaching, industrial, rational, assertive, and independent and proud; none of which is easily connected with nature. Therefore, nature is seen as the embodiment of all the characteristics that women possess.