Exploring Traces Of Patriarchal Cultural Hierarchy In John Keats’ Ode To Melancholy

Abstract

This research aims to identify the devaluation of women and nature in the world of patriarchy. Using Ortner's (1974) cultural ecofeminism, this study examines how the exploitation of environment and the enslavement of women are being equally connected. According to Ortner's (1974) aforementioned argument, patriarchy is to be responsible for the concurrent suffering of women and environment. The poem of Keats, Ode to Melancholy is revealed for their cultural ecofeminism components in this research. For this reason, a qualitative analysis of the poems was done to show how Keats identified cultural ecofeminism elements through personification in various locations while using this tool Keats also portraying nature and women equally. The arguments in this research explore that cross-culturally and historically, it has been observed that women as opposed to men are closer to nature in their psychology, by their social participation and through their physiology.  By making allusion to the conventional mental model that subordinated women and nature, the result shows that Keats has described the dualistic, patriarchal hierarchical culture in an effective and thoughtful manner.