Persistent Quest For The Way Out Of The Crises In Postmodern Society

Armed with profound knowledge of literature, anthropology, archaeology, philosophy, religion and psychology, keen on social upheavals and havocs, troubled by the crises afflicting the postmodern West, Ted Hughes, a brilliant poet, a conscientious writer, held his pen and began to mark a route to come out of the labyrinth of the crises in Postmodern Society in the West. He sensed the danger in the labyrinth and he tentatively probed for a way out, not on foot, but with his pen.He realized that the crises were deeply rooted in Western civilization which has alienated postmodern Western men both from the inner Nature and from the outer Nature. The key problem lies in Christianity, the core of Western civilization. Christianity emphasizes suppression of the inner Nature of man and exploitation of the outer Nature for man's benefit. In seeking for more benefit, Western men have pushed Western civilization to its limit, on the verge of dangerous hanging cliffs. The overdeveloped industrialism is achieved at the cost of the outer Nature. Man is alienated from the outer Nature, which nourishes people and heals their psyche. The outer Nature is being ravaged; it is disappearing. If no proper measures are taken, man will lose his second skin ?the outer Nature, and man will die out, sooner or later. The overdeveloped industrialism also results hi rationalism, which in turn further suppresses the inner Nature of man. Christianity is no longer effective as a means to contain the inner Nature, the elemental instincts of man. When the inner Nature is suppressed too long, it will erupt violently. Such a violent eruption is really a disaster. The suppression of the inner Nature may cause schizophrenia or other troubles.Since the crux of the problems lies in Western civilization, or to be exact, hi Christianity, Ted Hughes' quest would revolve around civilization and religion. Really he did.Ted Hughes at first pointed out the hidden dangers of the postmodern West, then he sought for the way out of the crises. As the first step of his quest, Ted Hughes pointed out the dangers. He exposed violence hi his first three volumes of nature poems ?The Hawk in the Rain, Lupercal and Wodwo. Hissecond step was a try in uniting postmodern Western men with the outer Nature and the inner Nature respectively in Crow and in Cave Birds. He found the unity difficult. He had his last try with Christianity to redeem the sick West in Gaudete. Although it failed, Ted Hughes was still cheerful. He appealed for return to Nature in Remains ofElmet and Moortown. This was a part of his quest after he had read Oriental philosophy and religion books. This quest prepared for his final success. Oriental religions were the right medicine for the sick West and his route out of the crises was finally completed. The convergence of Christianity, Taoism and Buddhism in his last important volume of nature poems, River, offers valuable means to redeem postmodern West.