The Survival Crisis In Post-industrial Era-an Ecological Interpretation Of White Noise

As a leading figure possessing unique charm among the contemporary writers inthe United States, Don DeLillo, with his unique perspective and sharp strokesengraved the status of human life in the post-industrial era. Meanwhile, hedemonstrated the implications of how people find themselves in the contemporarycomplicated American society. So far, DeLillo has published more than ten novels, inwhich White Noise is his masterpiece. This fiction is qualified as an “EcologicalDisaster Novel”, and is recognized by the academic community as one of the mostclassic post modernist novel in American. Furthermore, the novel won the1986American literary award National Book Award.White Noise is settled in a little town of central United States, which revolves thedaily life of the protagonist, Professor Jack Gladney and depicts different reactions onthe part of the town residences in face of an unexpected disaster, as well as theconsequent spiritual crisis. The thesis attempts to analyze the text from threedimensions: nature, society and spirit by means of the theory of ecological criticism.And it aims to demonstrate the conflict between post modern industry and ecologicalenvironment, gives a sarcasm to the abnormal consumption pattern and the spiritualdilemma of modern people in the contemporary American society. Gradually, it willdig out DeLillo’s ecological consciousness.The thesis consists of five parts. The first part is introduction, which mainlyintroduces DeLillo’s life and work, and the research status of the ecological criticismtheory at home and abroad. Moreover, it points out the shortcomings of the researchon White Noise, and further puts forward the significance of this thesis. The secondpart points out the destruction of natural environment from the perspective of naturalecology. It explicates the phenomenon of the conflict between nature and culturalenvironment and emphasize the natural living pattern is replaced by science andtechnology. The lack of modern human spiritual world from the perspective ofspiritual ecology is revealed in the third part. People’s abnormal fear of death after theairborne toxic event explicates that human nature is alienated, identity crisis graduallyhighlights. The fourth part describes the expansion of social life from the perspectiveof social ecology. The overwhelming mass media gets people excessively immersedin consumption, and the symbol consumption occupies a leading position. The fifth part is the summary of the thesis, which emphasizes the survival crisis in postindustrial era. Meanwhile, it evokes people’s attention on the already severe livingenvironment, urges the public to establish a scientific and rational attitude towards life,and enriches the inner happiness guided by the ecological consciousness. Finally, thepeople should in a joint effort to build a healthy social with the harmony between manand nature.