Introduction Eco-criticism
Eco-criticism, an interdisciplinary field of literary analysis, explores the intricate relationship between literature and the natural environment. Rooted in a commitment to environmentalism, eco-criticism examines how literary works engage with pressing ecological concerns, including climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution.
This critical approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living beings and ecosystems, fostering ecological consciousness. Eco-critics analyze the portrayal of nature in literature, considering its cultural, historical, and symbolic dimensions.
Also, eco-criticism addresses issues of environmental justice and advocates for equitable access to a healthy environment, making it a vital framework for understanding the intersection of literature and environmental issues.
Criticism Against Eco-Criticism
- Reductionism: Critics argue that eco-criticism sometimes reduce complex literary works to mere environmental allegories, oversimplifying their nuanced themes and messages.
- Anthropocentrism: Some contend that eco-criticism still places too much emphasis on human concerns and perspectives, despite its focus on the environment, and may not adequately prioritize non-human entities and ecosystems.
- Lack of Literary Focus: Critics suggest that eco-criticism’s primary focus on environmental issues may overshadow the appreciation of literary aesthetics and the nuances of literary analysis.
- Overspecialization: Concerns have been raised about eco-criticism’s tendency to become overly specialized, potentially limiting its accessibility and relevance to broader literary studies.
- Neglect of Cultural Context: Some argue that eco-criticism might overlook the cultural and historical contexts in which literary works are produced, leading to an oversimplified interpretation of their environmental aspects.
Examples of Eco-Criticism from Literature
- From The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
(Chapter 5): “The tractors came over the roads and into the fields, great crawlers moving like insects, having the incredible strength of insects. They crawled over the ground, laying the track and rolling on it and picking it up. Diesel tractors, puttering while they stood idle; they thundered when they moved, and then settled down to a droning roar. Snub-nosed monsters, raising the dust and sticking their snouts into it, straight down the country, across the country, through fences, through dooryards, in and out of gullies in straight lines. They did not run on the ground, but on their own roadbeds. They ignored hills and gulches, water courses, fences, houses.”
Ecocritical interpretation: This passage from The Grapes of Wrath highlights the destructive power of mechanized agriculture and its impact on the natural environment. The tractors are depicted as relentless and unstoppable creatures, akin to insects, with an incredible strength that allows them to reshape the land. This description emphasizes their invasive nature, as they disregard natural obstacles like hills, gulches, water courses, fences, and even human settlements.
From an ecocritical perspective, this passage reflects the larger theme of human domination and exploitation of nature during the Dust Bowl era. The tractors represent the industrialization and mechanization of agriculture, which contributed to the environmental degradation and displacement of farmers during that time. By describing the tractors as “snub-nosed monsters” and emphasizing their ability to ignore and override natural features, Steinbeck highlights the disruptive force of technology on the landscape.
- “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver:
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Ecocritical Interpretations: This stanza reflects an ecocritical perspective by emphasizing the interconnectedness of human beings with the natural world and urging a reconnection with our primal instincts. The rejection of societal expectations and the liberation from self-imposed burdens are apparent in the first three lines, challenging the notion of human dominance over nature. The phrase “soft animal of your body” evokes the primal, instinctual nature within each individual, suggesting that embracing our innate desires and passions is a way to align with the natural world. By encouraging self-acceptance and self-love, Oliver highlights the importance of personal well-being in order to engage meaningfully with the world. The invitation to share despair emphasizes the universality of human struggles and the need for empathy and connection. Simultaneously, the final line, “Meanwhile the world goes on,” alludes to the ongoing existence and resilience of the natural world despite human preoccupations, reminding us of the enduring and cyclical nature of the Earth. Overall, the stanza promotes a harmonious relationship with nature, emphasizing the significance of self-acceptance, empathy, and recognizing our place within the larger ecological fabric.
Keywords in Eco-Criticism
- Anthropocentrism: A worldview that prioritizes human interests and values over those of the natural world. Relevant because it highlights the need to shift away from human-centered perspectives in eco-criticism to more holistic and environmentally conscious viewpoints.
- Nature Writing: A literary genre that celebrates and reflects on the natural world, often promoting environmental awareness. Relevant because it is a primary source for eco-critics to analyze how literature represents and engages with nature.
- Bioregion: A distinct geographical area with its unique ecological characteristics and cultural practices. Relevant because it emphasizes the importance of local environments and their influence on literature and culture.
- Posthumanism: A theoretical approach challenging the traditional boundaries between humans and non-human entities. Relevant because it explores how literature redefines the relationship between humans and the environment.
- Ecological Ethics: A system of moral principles that considers the well-being of ecosystems and non-human life forms. Relevant because it provides a framework for eco-critics to assess ethical dimensions in literary works.
- Environmental Justice: The pursuit of equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens among different social groups. Relevant because it addresses issues of social and environmental inequality within literature.
- Sense of Place: The emotional and psychological attachment individuals have to specific locations, often influencing their identity. Relevant because it helps eco-critics analyze how literature reflects the connections between people and their environments.
- Dark Ecology: A concept that explores the interconnectedness of life and death in ecosystems, highlighting the cyclical nature of existence. Relevant because it challenges conventional narratives by examining the symbiotic relationships between life and decay in literature.
Suggested Readings
- Buell, Lawrence. The Environmental Imagination: Thoreau, Nature Writing, and the Formation of American Culture. Harvard University Press, 1995.
- Glotfelty, Cheryll, and Harold Fromm, editors. The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology. University of Georgia Press, 1996.
- Hiltner, Ken, editor. Ecocriticism: The Essential Reader. Routledge, 2015.
- Kolbert, Elizabeth. The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. Picador, 2014.
- Morton, Timothy. Ecology without Nature: Rethinking Environmental Aesthetics. Harvard University Press, 2007.
- Williams, Raymond. The Country and the City. Oxford University Press, 1973.