A Study On Rachel Carson And Her Ecological Thoughts

The American writer Rachel Carson (1907-1964) played an important role as milestone in the progress of ecoliterature. She reminded human beings of potential danger and set off a worldwide ecological protection wave. She altered the course of history and turned the orientation of human beings; she used impassioned and poetic language to describe nature, revealed ecological problems, and spread ecological concepts. All these aroused the environmental consciousness of ordinary people, caused the amendment of environmental policies and development strategy around the world, and started the ecological revolution directly. In the20th century, there was no other ecologist and eco-philosopher that could compete with Carson in terms of the influence. However, for such an important writer, the research about her works in China isn’t comprehensive.This thesis discusses her life and her works. It depicts her interrelated life and work events, and links her works with social background in order to form an overall comment on the development of her ecological ideology. The thesis begins with Carson’s family background and school life, and takes her writing career as a clue, which enables the readers to have a thorough understanding of this great woman. Chapter Two makes an introduction to Carson’s main works, which can help the readers have a basic understanding of her works. Chapter Three draws an elementary and systemic conclusion of the basic theories of ecological ethics and ecological holism first, and then analyzes her works based on the theories. In the last chapter, this thesis presents the influence of Carson:one aspect of which is the American environmental movement, and the other is the realistic meaning for China. Thus the social value of Carson’s literature works is vividly manifested.The main purpose of this thesis is to improve ordinary people’s environmental consciousness and promote the development of human ecological civilization through a close reading of Rachel Carson and her ecological thoughts. Meanwhile, this thesis aims to offer a new platform for Carson’s research, and help the readers better understand the broad and profound ecological thoughts contained in Carson’s works.