Search For Harmony

Woolf's ecological views can be summed up as a search for harmony and balance among humans and nature, nature and civilization, and civilization and humans. Because of the influence of the world wars, Woolf was very concerned about the continued existence of humankind in modern society. Woolf believed that humans should not conquer nature with overwhelming power, but should change the ideas of anthropocentrism which have existed for a long time. Only if humans co-exist with nature harmoniously, can they break away from the depredations caused by war and excessive exploitation of nature, and can they live a happy life forever.So this thesis, by exploring the relationships among humans, nature and civilization in modern society represented in Woolf's novels, analyzes Woolfs ecological views. They concern human-nature relations, nature-civilization relations, and civilization-human relations. In sum, these three dimensions of the relations together clarify Woolf's harmony principle: humans must learn to co-exist more harmoniously with nature, must limit their exploitation of nature and must stop destroying nature by wars and pollution. As previously noted, only by co-existing harmoniously with nature, can humans live a happy, prosperous and civilized life, and can they expect humanity to survive indefinitely.In modern times, anthropocentrism has developed into its peak. As a result, the relationship between humans and nature has become extremely worse. Meanwhile, in the middle of the 19^th century, capitalism developed into Imperialism which strained the relationships between humans and humans, developed countries and undeveloped countries. Consequently, under the pressure of Imperialism, human life becomes mechanical and stifled. Thus, in order to have a true, happy life, humans should oppose Imperialism and get rid of its disharmonious elements. Only in this way may they live a happy life. This thesis first explores the relationship between humans and nature. Woolf was exploring the harmony between humans and nature throughout her life. She thinks that since humans are the product of nature, only if they obey the law of nature can they enjoy the infinite freedom and beauty of life. But Imperialism destroys this harmony. When humans lose their intimate relation with nature, they are isolated and threatened with extinction. Hence, Woolf opposes the wasting and the plundering of nature by humans and appeals for a harmonious relationship between humans and nature, which alone will give hope for the survival of humans.In addition to the relationship between humans and nature, Woolf is also concerned about the relationship between nature and civilization which is essentially a relationship between nature and humans in highly-organized, industrial and technological societies. In To the Lighthouse through the contrast of pre- and postwar relationships between humans and nature, Woolf points out that it is the war launched by Imperialism that causes the discordant relationship between civilization and nature. In her other novels, the relationship between civilization and nature is also reflected. Woolf appreciates the progress of civilization over nature and praises the wisdom and strength of humankind. At the same time, she also stresses that humans should obey the law of nature in the process of civilization. According to Woolf, in order to keep the balance between nature and civilization, humankind should, first of all, oppose the invasion and the plundering of nature; and then they should continue working hard to create more advanced science and technology so that they can learn the rules of nature better and solve those technical problems of the balance between humans and nature in modern times.The reason for which Woolf appeals for harmony between humans and nature and the balance between nature and civilization lies in the fact that Imperialism destroys the balance in nature and in human civilization as well. So in the third chapter, the influence of Imperialism on human civilization is discussed. Through analyzing the creators of civilization, once more Woolf denounces the ruling class who are the pretended creators of civilization and points out that the way for obtaining harmony between humans and civilization is to overthrow the pretended creators—the dominating rulers—and to support the real creators, the common working people, so that humans can be benefited from civilization completely.This thesis tries to explore the trinity—humans, nature and civilization—in order to achieve a comprehensive interpretation of Virginia Woolf's ecological views. Woolf is concerned about the oppression by despotism in modern society and worries about the fate and the future of humankind. She suggests that the way to assure the continuance of humankind is to achieve a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The problems of human existence with which Woolf is concerned still exist in today's life and are even becoming worse. For example, more and more natural disasters appear; some resources and species become extinct; and the weather sometimes becomes abnormal. It is at this time that humans are driven to the last ditch. In these years, the anthropocentric people have been so selfish and shortsighted that they only care about their own and the present benefits without considering others and the future. These behaviors put humans into a vicious circle. When humans destroy nature, they are in essence destroying their home. It's time for humans, for us, to think it over: how to survive in the world? So by the exploration of Woolf's ecological views, this thesis aims to call attention to the wisdom of her ecological views which are helpful to solve the ecological problems today and helpful to the continuance of our life as well.