Ecological Interpretation Of The Two Dystopian Novels Of Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood (1939-) is a widely known Canadian woman writer. Her deep concerns for the future of nature, human society and mankind are usually expressed in her numerous works. In the 21st century, the daily worsening environmental crisis and the dropping bounds of human morality have troubled the whole world, which are mainly reflected in the two novels. The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake. The thesis interprets Atwood's ecological thought in the two novels in light of the theory of Ecocriticism. Firstly, the introspective principle is considered to be the start point of Ecocriticism. The thesis makes use of the dystopian genre to illustrate how the introspective principle is reflected in the two novels. Secondly, the holistic principle is regarded as the fundamental thought of Ecocriticism. By means of criticism on anthropocentrism and industrial civilization, the thesis points out the great importance of taking the holistic thought as the guidance for human actions, and indicates that the holistic principle is the only effective approach for human development and transformation. At wood's ecological thought is becoming thorough with time passing by. and the two principles are reflected in her ecological thought:the thesis hopes to enrich and complement studies on Atwood's ecological consciousness, and intends to arouse more readers' senses of the ecological protection and self-examination.