Shakespeare's The Tempest In The Vision Of Ecocriticism

In the context of global environmental deterioration, ecocriticism is set off in the field of literary criticism. Ecocriticism takes as its subject the interconnections between nature and culture and calls for a cultural change, a more ecocentric world-view and an extension of ethics. The Tempest, customarily identified as Shakespeare's last stage piece, emerges as an ecology-conscious text when it is read against the background of Gaia Hypothesis, Ecocentrism, Ecological Consciousness and Deep Ecology.This thesis is an attempt to revisit Shakespeare's The Tempest by adopting the approach of ecocriticism. The introduction is comprised of three parts. First, it presents diachronically a literature review on The Tempest. Then, it focuses on the explanation of ecocriticism, including its historical rise, its archetypal reference in Gaia Hypothesis and its philosophical foundation in Deep Ecology. Finally, it states the affinity between The Tempest and ecocriticism, and thus guarantees the feasibility of present thesis.Chapter One argues that the lonely island in The Tempest bears much resemblance to the self-regulated Daisyworld in Gaia Hypothesis and that an ecological crisis breaks out on the island later, due to Prospero's manipulatory actions, such as deforestation and colonization. Chapter Two inquires into the deeper reasons contributing to the ecological crisis on the island and elaborates upon the fact that the so-called supernatural power is deeply rooted in the anthropocentric tradition of the Bible and highly appraised in the western civilization. Chapter Three is devoted to the possible way out of the ecological crisis both in and out of the play. It expounds that the theme of freedom echo the spirit of Deep Ecology and points out that the freedom based on mutual respect may insure the realization of a harmonious coexistence.By examining the outbreak, the causes, and the possible way out of the ecological crisis in the play, it is concluded that in The Tempest Shakespeare has foretold us of the truth that man is but an indispensable part of the nature, being depended and depending. The significance of approaching The Tempest from the perspective of ecocriticism lies in its instructiveness in re-interrogating man/nature relationship and in revitalizing ecological consciousness in an individual.