An Ecocritical Study Of John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck has been considered one of the greatest writers in the twentieth-century American literature. This thesis, by employing the theories of ecocriticism, attempts to carry out a systematic analysis and interpretation of his masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath, concentrating on Steinbeck's criticism of anthropocentrism and his ecological thoughts revealed in the novel.This thesis consists of three parts:the introduction, the body and the conclusion.The introductory part makes a critical review of John Steinbeck and The Grapes of Wrath at home and abroad, explains why the author of this thesis chooses the perspective of ecocriticism and The Grapes of Wrath as the research topic, and introduces the questions discussed in this thesis.The body of this thesis includes four chapters.Chapter One is a brief introduction to the literary history of ecocriticism, some important concepts related to it,and the guiding theories of ecocriticism applied in this research.Chapter Two analyzes the factors that contribute to Steinbeck's ecological ideas i.e. his life experiences of being close to nature, biological training in Hopkins Marine Station and friendship with Edward F. Ricketts, and the ecological background of the novel The Grapes of Wrath.Chapter Three focuses on Steinbeck's criticism of anthropocentrism through the aspects he presents in The Grapes of Wrath.First, Steinbeck reproaches man for his abuse of the land. Second, he expresses bitter criticism on science and technology, and points out that science and technology not only destroy the land but also bring about man's alienation from the land. Third, Steinbeck criticizes man's uncontrolled material desires that distort human relationship and damage the stability of the whole ecological system.Chapter Four analyzes Steinbeck's ecological thoughts revealed in The Grapes of Wrath.Steinbeck implies his ecological ethical view that animals have intrinsic value and reveals that the relationship between nature and man is holistic. Steinbeck glorifies the harmonious human relationship which is important to the stability of the whole ecological system. He also advocates that to have an ecological life people should have less material desire and more spiritual pursuit.The Conclusion emphasizes that The Grapes of Wrath contains Steinbeck's deep ecological ethical ideas,ecological holistic philosophies,and ecological way of life. Steinbeck's ecological thoughts reflected in The Grapes of Wrath still enlighten us today.