The Call Of Cold Mountain

Ecocriticism explores the relationship between human and nature depicted in theliterary works. The contemporary writer Charles Frazier’s novel Cold Mountain, whichmakes a name for Frazier, is a typical literary works concerning ecological issues. Itreveals the ecological crisis caused by the wanton unsustainable development of themodern civilization: the man-and-nature relationship is at risk; the physicalenvironment is in danger; the loss of humanity and self is the order of the day; spiritualand moral deficiency can be expected. This thesis, approaching Charles Frazier’s novelCold Mountain from an ecocritical perspective, is devoted to making a full explorationinto Frazier’s ecological consciousness on the basis of related theories of ecocriticism.These ecological theories applied are the main points of Arne Naess’s deep ecology,Aldo Leopold’s land ethic, along with part of the simple eco-philosophy involved inthe Oriental traditions. This thesis adopts the two ultimate norms of deepecology—“Self-realization” and “biocentric equality” and the principle holismemphasized in the thoughts of both land ethic and the Oriental traditions to conduct asystematic interpretation of the implied thematic ecological significance of ColdMountain, Charles Frazier’s ecological ideas having been imbedded into the SouthAppalachian writers’ tradition, and Frazier’s sense of crisis about the ecology exposedin the text.This thesis is constituted by three parts. The first part gives a brief introduction ofCharles Frazier, his construction of Cold Mountain, the domestic and oversea studysituation, and the basic information of ecocriticism. The second part consists of threechapters. Chapter One is concerned with the factors which formed Charles Frazier’secological consciousness. These factors are mainly from the writer’s grown-upenvironment, family tradition, education background and unique experience; ChapterTwo takes the view that Charles Frazier is a writer with ecological consciousness whohas expressed his strong desire in the novel Cold Mountain to strive to dissolve theideas of western dualism and anthropocentrism and regain the idea of holism; ChapterThree, by employing the ecological theories, from the viewpoints of “biocentricequality” and “Self-realization”, carries out a whole, systematic and overall analysisand interpretation of the separate journey of Inman in space and Ada in achievingsurvival ability as the process of their self-realization from the narrow “self” to“Ecological Self”. The last part of the thesis—conclusion, is devoted to the examination of the ecological significance that Frazier tries to unfold in his novel, andinterpret the writer’s ecological ideas of returning to nature as a way to rescuehumanity from their spiritual sterility through integration with their original humannature deep-rooted in the earth; Frazier calls for the redemption of shattered souls tobuild up an ecological world where humans live in harmony with nature as well as eachother, and to promote an ecological perception of existence.