The Ecological Ideology In The Education Of Little Tree

The Education of Little Tree is an initiation story in which a boy—Little Tree—growsup under the guidance of his Cherokee grandparents. It centers on the harmoniousrelationship that the family have with nature in the mountains. The impressive story of howLittle Tree learns from nature has helped the novel win a widespread readership in thecontext of environmental movement in the1970s and ever since. This study focuses on theecological ideology reflected in the novel by drawing on ecocriticism and Native Americanthoughts.Through this study, it can be concluded that the ecological ideology reflected in TheEducation of Little Tree is mainly from three aspects: the way of nature, the society innature and the spirituality of nature.Affirmation of life is the essence of the way of nature, or “The Way” in the novel,which contains two aspects. Philosophically,“The Way” is the continuity of life, whichguides Cherokee’s value toward wholeness, balance and reciprocity. Aesthetically,“TheWay” enables the recognition and enjoyment of natural beauty, which promotes Cherokees’gratitude and reverence toward nature.Cherokees live in a social ecology for the sake of nature. In the novel, the relationshipbetween Cherokees is harmonious. But the white people are full of ambivalence anddisagreement. According to their attitude toward money and power, it is obvious thatCherokees think for the interests of nature which include human’s interests as well as otherbeings’, while the white people think for themselves. Thus, the social ecology of theCherokee is a society for the wholeness of nature and human.The spirituality of nature in the novel represents Cherokees’ belief in Mon-o-lah, theEarth, who is the source of the sacred. The reliability of the land contributes to the belief inthe Earth, who is able to heal the spiritual trauma of the Cherokees. Cherokees couldstrengthen their spiritual mind as to approach to the sacred.