An Analysis Of The Symbiosis In Octavia Estelle Butler’s Fledgling Based On Ecocriticism

Octavia Estelle Butler(1947-2006),an African-American female science fiction writer,expresses her deep thinking about the existence of marginalized groups and the future of mankind.As one of Butler’s masterpieces,Fledgling describes the symbiotic relationship between the non-human species Ina and humans from the perspective of Ina Shori.Scholars generally believe this is an allegorical novel that refers to racial issues.Only a few scholars pay attention to the ecological holism reflected in the text.This thesis believes that Butler deliberately creates non-human species like Ina in the novel,aiming to express her deep ethical care:the ecological holism of harmonious co-existence between humans and all things in nature.Based on the theory of ecological criticism,this thesis analyzes the deconstruction of the dualism of man and nature,ecological holistic thinking,and the view of ecological harmony to explore the symbiosis reflected in Fledgling.Firstly,the thesis believes that the non-human species Ina has the right to speak for nature through an anthropomorphic technique.Ina has natural power and a unique language and culture,symbolizing the unity of naturality and rationality,which breaks the narrow definition of nature under the epistemology of anthropocentrism;secondly,the physical and emotional symbiosis of Ina and human beings shows the dual physical and psychological connection between human beings and all things in nature.At the same time,the multicultural co-existence in the symbiotic community emphasizes the ecological and cultural diversity of the group based on ecological holism;finally,the survival of Ina Shori with Ina-and-human genes after the disaster foreshadows the possibility of building a harmonious society between mankind and all things in nature.Generally speaking,the thesis interprets the symbiotic thought reflected in Fledgling from the perspective of ecological criticism to clarify Butler’s ecological ethics:A harmonious ecological society refers to the deep connection between man and nature;while paying attention to the ecological whole,humans should pay attention to the justice of minority groups;the process of continuous deconstruction of existing cognition is also rebuilding the ecological cognition of the entire world for human beings.