挑戰二元對立思維：以生態女性主義分析瑪格麗特・愛特伍《可以吃的女人》

Abstract

借用生態女性主義（ecofeminism）的視角，本論文探討瑪格麗特・愛特伍（Margaret Atwood）的《可以吃的女人》（The Edible Woman）中的二元對立邏輯（logic of dualism）如何導致女性和動物的壓迫。鑒於愛特伍德在小說中對女性主義與動物議題的關注，本論文透過生態女性主義對二元對立邏輯的批判作為解讀該小說的研究方法。首先，本文以凱倫·沃倫（Karen Warren）提出的壓迫的概念框架（oppressive conceptual framework）為基礎，分析二元對立邏輯如何將邊緣化的「他者」與社會文化建構的劣勢特質連結，並透過與隱蔽機制進一步核准並掩蓋對動物的壓迫。然而，阿特伍德藉由描繪能激發共感的人與動物互動，對這種壓迫性邏輯提出了反駁，這些互動揭示了動物不僅僅是食物的存在。此類人與動物互動挑戰了壓迫性概念框架與隱蔽機制，並促進共鳴與認同。其次，本文進一步探討在二元對立系統中，個體所面臨的選擇有限性，聚焦於瑪麗安在顛覆（subversion）與同化（assimilation）瓦爾·普魯姆伍德（Val Plumwood）提出的「主宰身份」（master identity）之間的兩難處境。「主導身份」是一種由二元對立系統中被認為優越的特質所構成的身份，而瑪麗安試圖通過擬人化（anthropomorphism）與動物化（zoomorphism）來顛覆此身份。這一顛覆挑戰了二元對立系統，瓦解對立並凸顯人類與非人類之間的連續性。然而，顛覆也可能帶來去權（disempowerment）的風險，使個體成為攻擊目標，尤其在以「適者生存」邏輯為基礎的社會中，個體若不扮演掠食者角色，便有可能淪為獵物。因此，瑪麗安有時選擇同化主導身份，作為一種自我保護的機制。儘管瑪麗安的顛覆嘗試最終失敗，本論文認為，阿特伍德提出了一種更具包容性的倫理觀，試圖瓦解二元對立邏輯，並將關懷延伸至非人類他者，儘管這種倫理可能使主體面臨脆弱性和去權的風險。瑪麗安的顛覆雖然短暫，但仍足以促使讀者反思自身可能內化的二元對立思維，以及由此引發的對邊緣化「他者」的壓迫。

Drawing from ecofeminism, this thesis explores the logic of dualism that sanctions the oppression of women and animals in Margaret Atwood’s The Edible Woman. Given Atwood’s engagement with feminist and animal issues in the novel, this thesis borrows ecofeminism’s critique of dualism as a lens through which to interpret the novel. Beginning with Karen Warren’s notion of the oppressive conceptual framework, which refers to a dualist system that links marginalized others to socioculturally constructed inferior qualities, this study examines how the oppressive conceptual framework operates in tandem with mechanisms of concealment to both sanction and obscure the oppression of animals. However, Atwood counters this oppression through meaningful human-animal encounters that reveal animals as more than food. These human-animal encounters challenge both the oppressive conceptual system and mechanisms of concealment, fostering empathy and identification. The thesis further explores the limited choices available to individuals within such a dualist system, focusing on Marian’s dilemma between subverting or assimilating Val Plumwood’s notion of the master identity–a constructed identity defined by characteristics deemed superior in dualisms. Subverting the master identity through anthropomorphism and zoomorphism challenges the binary system, collapsing oppositions and highlighting continuities between human-nonhuman dichotomies. However, with subversion also comes the risk of disempowerment, making the individual a target, especially in a society that is underscored by the survival-of-the-fittest mentality, where individuals must either assume the role of predator or risk becoming prey. Consequently, Marian sometimes desires assimilation, seeking to adopt the master identity as a self-protective mechanism. Ultimately, while Marian’s attempts at subversion fail and she eventually returns to where she started, this thesis argues that Atwood envisions a more inclusive ethics that collapses oppressive dualisms and extends care to nonhuman others, despite the vulnerability and potential disempowerment this may entail. Marian’s subversion, albeit temporary, challenges readers to reconsider their own beliefs that may be rooted in the logic of dualism, leading to the oppression of marginalized others.