Female Emancipation and Sustainability: A Study on the Signs of Ecofeminism in the Works of María Luisa Bombal

This study focuses on the novel “La Última Niebla” by Chilean writer María Luisa Bombal, along with other stories from her works, such as “La Amortajada”, “El Árbol”, “Las Islas Nuevas”, “Trenzas”, and “La Historia de María Griselda”. These narratives are representative of Bombal’s style and have solidified her place as one of the most prominent figures among young Chilean female writers during the first half of the 20th century. The protagonists of these works, in their attempt to escape the restrictions imposed by the traditional patriarchal system, immerse themselves in nature, blending reality and fantasy, civilization and the natural environment. Despite their aspiration to maintain self-awareness and female autonomy, these heroines struggle to fully liberate themselves from the patriarchal context. This article, based on ecofeminist theory, analyzes the relationship between the protagonists and nature, exploring the ecofeminist thought present in Bombal’s writing and revealing her deep motivations behind the personal quest and her struggle for female emancipation through literary creation.