Reconstructing A Harmonious Human-Nature Relationship

Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier’s debut novel, receives many awards in America forits thorough portrayal of the subtle human-nature relationship and people’s affection forthe land. Previous studies on this novel mainly focus on the theme of the story such aslove, the trauma the war brings to the humans and the yearning for home, whereas only afew researches see it from the perspective of ecocriticism. This paper intends to expoundthe relationship between humans and nature implied by Charles Frazier in ColdMountain from the angle of ecocriticism and ecofeminism.This paper is based on two theories, i.e. ecocriticism and ecofeminism. The formerargues against anthropocentrism and proposes ecological holism. The latter rebuts thebinary opposition and holds the belief that all living beings are created equal. Therefore,these two theories share much common ground.This paper discusses Frazier’s anti-anthropocentic attitude through reflecting thecauses of the Civil War, which are bounded by anthropocentrism. By analyzing thesurvival crisis which results from the food shortage and the reinforcement of patriarchalculture, this paper reveals the effect of the war—the imbalanced human-naturerelationship. It also analyzes three women’s affinity with nature to highlight the role ofwomen in reconstruction of human-nature relationship. The interpretation of the story ofthe two deserters which implicitly suggests the reconciliation between men and naturedemonstrates the writer’s intention to reconstruct a harmonious relationship betweenhuman race and nature.To appreciate Cold Mountain with an eco-critical thinking will not only dig out thesubtle relationship between mankind and land implied by Frazier, but also provideanother way to further understand this novel. Meanwhile, the paper awakens people tothe root of environmental issues and ecological crisis as well as arouses people to inspectour deeds in order to protect our planet.