Ecocriticism/Green Studies

INTRODUCTION TO ECOCRITICISM/GREEN STUDIES 

Ecocriticism is the latest and the newest type of theory in criticism which has evolved in the 21st century. Modern scientists are much worried about the very existence of the earth and its resources. Modern science and technology have created dangers for the future generation of mankind. Breaking of the layers of Ozone due to too much carbon dioxide and too much consumption of natural gas, crude oil, etc. have made us think seriously on how we can protect the earth and the environment in order to survive ourselves and our future generation.The gap between man and nature has been increasing by heaps and bounds in the modern world of science and technology. Hence, to bring about a balance between man and nature and ecology has been the dire need of today's time.

DEFINITION OF ECOCRITICISM:

True literature gives expression to the most urgent and important challenges of the time. The challenge of modern times is to save our mother earth and to save nature. Ecocriticism is a new branch of criticism in which the critics try to find out to what extent modern literature discusses these issues of ecology. Modern eco-critics try to examine to what extent literature leads mankind to bring about the balance between man and the earth. Ecocriticism is the study of literature and environment from an interdisciplinary point of view. 

Ecocriticism investigates the relation between human and the natural world in literature.It deals with how environmental issues,cultural issues concerning the environment and attitudes towards nature are presented and analyzed.One of the main goals in Ecocriticism is to study how individuals in society behave and react in relation to nature and ecological aspects. This new study is often termed as “green (cultural) studies”, “eco- poetics”, and “environmental literary criticism.”

ORIGIN OF ECOCRITICISM:

The idea of the relationship between ecology and literature was first heralded by Joseph Meeker as an idea called "literary ecology" in his work 'The Comedy of Survival: Studies in Literary Ecology' published in 1972.Later on, the term Ecocriticism was coined in 1978 by William Rueckert in his essay 'Literature and Ecology: An Experiment in Ecocriticism. Ecocriticism as a separate approach became popular in the USA in the 1980s. It became widespread in Europe as ‘Green Studies’ in 1990s.But Ecocriticism as a new style or method of understanding literature officially began with the publication of work, both published in mid-1990s:

1. 'The Ecocriticism Reader, edited by Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm

2. 'The Environmental Imagination', by Lawrence Buell.

MAJOR FOLLOWERS OF ECOCRITICISM:

1. Jonathan Bate (considered as the father of Ecocriticism in England)

2. Cheryll Glotfelty (father of Ecocriticism in the USA)

3. Laurence Coupe

4. Patrick D Murphy

5. Raymond Williams 

IMPORTANT BOOKS ON ECOCRITICISM:

1. 'The Green Studies Reader: From Romanticism to Ecocriticism' by Laurence Coupe

2. 'The Song of the Earth' by Jonathan Bate 

3. 'The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology' by Cheryll Glotfelty

4. 'Literature of Nature: An International Source-book’ by Patrick D.Murphy

5. ‘What is Nature?Culture, Politics, and the Non-Human’ by Kate Soper

What is ecocriticism ?

Ecocriticism can be defined as the study of the relationship between literature and the physical environment.It is also referred as Green Studies which began in USA in 1980s which was founded by Cheryll Glotfelty.Cheryll and Harold Fromm edited a collection of essays entitled The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology in 1996. Co-founder of ASLE (Association for the study of literature and environment) in 1992. At the WLA (Western Literature Association) conference she insisted on using the term ‘Ecocriticism’ instead of 'the study of nature writing. Ecocriticism as a concept was introduced by Michael P who traces the word Ecocriticism from William Rueckert's essay 'Literature and ecology: an experiment in Ecocriticism (1978).

The literary bearings of Ecocriticism can be seen in the 19th century American transcendentalists whose works celebrated nature, the life force and the wilderness.Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller and Henry David were the prominent writers who dealt with those themes.Ralph Waldo Emerson's book Nature, published in 1836 exposed the cultural independence and the impact upon him of the natural world. Fuller's first book Summer on the Lakes During 1843 expresses that it is a journal of her encounter with the American landscape as the first woman student at Harvard(is about her experiences exploring the American landscape. It mentions her being the first woman student at Harvard, which influenced her perspective on the environment). Thoreau Walden expresses his two year stay from 1845 in a hut he had built on the shore of Walden Pond. All these writings depicted the dropping out of modern life and seeking to renew the self by a 'return to nature The Ecocriticism in UK took its bearing from the British Romanticism of the1790s.

The active proponents of Ecocriticism in Britain is based on certain institutions and a collection of essays was published in Laurence Coupe's The Green Studies: from Romanticism to Ecocriticism.The preferred American term is 'Ecocriticism' and 'green studies' is used in England. The American writings were celebratory in tone whereas the British writings warned of environmental threats. Ecocriticism concerned the matter of the relationship between culture and nature.Theory in general stated that everything is socially and linguistically constructed, which was rejected by the ecocritics.(This line means that some theories say our understanding of the world is shaped by society and language. But ecocritics disagree. They think nature also plays a big role, not just society and language.)

For example the outdoor environment gradually moves from wilderness to the scenic sublime(when you feel amazed by the beauty and power of nature, like when you see a breathtaking mountain or a vast ocean), the countryside and then the culture.All these environmental areas acted as the basis of the writings. The American transcendentalists preferred the wilderness,Wordsworth- the scenic sublime, Thomas Gray and James Johnson - the countryside and the domestic fiction in countryside and culture.The ecocritics argue that there is no true wilderness as every region is affected by global warming and other anthropocentric problems.(This line means ecocritics believe there's no untouched wilderness left because things like global warming and human-related issues affect every part of the world. So, even remote areas aren't completely natural anymore)

WHAT DO THE ECOCRITICS DO?

• The ecocritics examine the works of literature from the ecological point of view.

• They try to see how human life is presented in proportion to nature.

• They examine human civilization along with nature.

• The ecocritics study literature to see how it shows the importance of natural resources in our lives, our deeds which harm the ecological balance, wars and their adverse effect on our society and so on.

EXAMPLES OF ECOCRITICISM:

1. One may study Wordsworth's ‘Daffodils' from ecological perspectives where the poet gives importance to nature in his life.

2. We may study 'Ode on Solitude' by Alexander Pope from an ecological point of view. Here too the poet talks of the importance of solace of nature in the hustle and bustle of modern life of industry and technology.

London by William Blake

 London by William Blake 

Introduction of Author

William Blake (1757–1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker, best known for his visionary poetry and unique artistic style. He was a prominent figure of the Romantic movement and is often considered one of the greatest poets in the English language. Blake's works are characterized by their exploration of spirituality, social justice, and the imagination, often challenging the conventions of his time.

"London" is one of Blake's most famous poems, published in 1794 as part of his collection "Songs of Experience." The poem reflects Blake's deep concern for the social and political conditions of his era, particularly the hardships faced by the urban poor in London during the late 18th century. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Blake critiques the oppressive forces that dehumanize individuals and stifle their freedom in the city. "London" serves as both a protest against societal injustices and a call for greater empathy and compassion towards the marginalized members of society.

Stanza 1:

"I wander thro' each charter'd street,

Near where the charter'd Thames does flow,

And mark in every face I meet

Marks of weakness, marks of woe."

In this opening stanza, the speaker describes walking through the streets of London, emphasizing the sense of confinement and restriction implied by the term "charter'd." The Thames River, which flows through London, is also depicted as bound by man-made laws. The speaker observes the faces of the people he encounters, noting the physical and emotional toll of their suffering.

Stanza 2:

"In every cry of every Man,

In every Infants cry of fear,

In every voice: in every ban,

The mind-forg'd manacles I hear"

Here, the speaker hears the collective cries of the people, from men to infants, expressing fear and suffering. The phrase "mind-forg'd manacles" suggests that the constraints and limitations experienced by individuals are not just physical but also mental, imposed by societal norms and expectations.

Stanza 3:

"How the Chimney-sweepers cry

Every blackning Church appalls,

And the hapless Soldiers sigh

Runs in blood down Palace walls"

This stanza highlights the plight of different segments of society. The cries of the chimney-sweepers evoke the harsh labor conditions they endure, while the "blackning Church" symbolizes moral corruption. The soldiers' sighs, contrasted with the imagery of blood running down palace walls, suggest the violence and exploitation perpetuated by those in power.

Stanza 4:

"But most thro' midnight streets I hear

How the youthful Harlots curse

Blasts the new-born Infants tear

And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse".

The speaker continues to describe the sounds of suffering that pervade the city, particularly focusing on the curses of young prostitutes and the tears of newborn infants. The phrase "Marriage hearse" conveys the idea of marital relationships being tainted by societal ills and unhappiness.

Let's explore further the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem:

Oppression and Repression: Blake's London is depicted as a city burdened by oppression and repression. The repeated references to "charter'd" streets and "charter'd Thames" suggest that even nature itself is bound by man-made laws and restrictions. This conveys a sense of confinement and control over the people, stifling their freedom and individuality.

Poverty and Suffering: 

The poem vividly describes the poverty and suffering endured by the lower classes. Blake highlights the "marks of weakness, marks of woe" etched on the faces of the inhabitants, emphasizing the physical and emotional toll of their hardships. The imagery of "black'ning Church" and "black'ning" walls suggests a pervasive atmosphere of despair and decay.

Corruption and Moral Degradation: 

Blake critiques the moral degradation prevalent in society, symbolized by the "mind-forg'd manacles" that imprison the minds of the people. The "hapless Soldier's sigh" and the "youthful Harlot's curse" reflect the disillusionment and despair experienced by individuals from various walks of life. The reference to the "Marriage hearse" suggests a bleak view of marital relationships, tainted by societal constraints and unhappiness.

Industrialization and Urbanization:

Blake explores the adverse effects of industrialization and urbanization on society. The "chimney-sweeper's cry" and the "hapless Soldier's sigh" represent the exploitation and dehumanization of laborers and soldiers within the industrial and military complexes of the city. The image of the "blood down palace walls" evokes a sense of violence and injustice perpetuated by those in power.

Rebellion and Resistance: Despite the pervasive despair depicted in the poem, there are elements of rebellion and resistance. The speaker's observation of the "every cry of every -born Infant's tear,And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse".

The speaker continues to describe the sounds of suffering that pervade the city, particularly focusing on the curses of young prostitutes and the tears of newborn infants. The phrase "Marriage hearse" conveys the idea of marital relationships being tainted by societal ills and unhappiness.

Conclusion 

"London" by William Blake paints a bleak picture of life in the city during his time. It talks about how people suffered, how poverty was everywhere, and how even children and soldiers faced hardships. Blake criticizes the society of his time for its injustice and lack of compassion. He wants people to notice these problems and work together to make society fairer and more caring for everyone.