The Dialogue Between "Deer' And “Flour”:Ecological Interpretation Of People Of The Deer

Farley Mowat is an internationally acclaimed Canadian writer.His obsession with nature and two years' experience in the Arctic shaped his unique view on traditional natural history aiming at the entire natural world,and the distinct features of his works.Most of his works focus on the relationship between human and nature.People of the Deer is about the story of the once prosperous and widely dispersed Deer People,who slowly dwindle to the brink of extinction due to the intrusion of the white people.The book focuses on the relationship between the deer and the Deer People,from balance to unbalance.With detailed reading,readers can find that the book not only presents the destruction to the deer and the Deer People but also reveals the ideological and cultural roots of the ecological crisis,the desire for wealth and of controlling and conquering nature.Moreover,practical and long-term solutions to the problems are put forward in the book,which are in line with the ecological conception,and are of high practical value.The thesis will analyze the relationships based on ecological thoughts between the deer and the Deer People,the Deer People and the white people and between human and nature;the ideological roots of these relationships;and the feasibility of the proposals and the ecological thoughts they contain.The thesis is composed of five chapters:Chapter One is a brief introduction to the author and his major works,the literature review and the significance of the research.Chapter Two illustrates the “deer”,the maintenance of ecological balance in the Barrens and the relationship between the deer and the Deer People,and between man and nature.The deer,a symbol of nature,is the lifeblood of the Barrens,supporting the Deer People;the Deer People,with ecological consciousness,have their own living principles,respecting nature,conforming to nature and sustainably utilizing nature.Thus,the ecological balance is maintained.Chapter Three interprets the “flour”,the destruction of the natural order and the relationship between barbarism and modern civilization.The white traders intrude into the Arctic with flour and rifles in pursuit of profits.The “flour” and “rifle” take place of “deer” and “spear” and destroy the balance between the deer and the Deer People,resulting in the Deer People's fatal destruction,the great famine and the Great Pain.Chapter Four analyzes the dialogue between “deer” and “flour”.In order to preserve the survivors of the Deer People and maintain the ecological balance,the reconciliation between human and nature should be achieved.Efforts made by the government,the author's proposals and successful cases from other countries are also analyzed and evaluated thoroughly to analyze the feasibility and the ecological thoughts they contain.Chapter Five is the summary of the thesis: The ecological balance on the Arctic Barrens is the result of the Deer People following the ancient natural laws;the intervention of modern civilization and technology on nature should be controlled within certain limits to maintain the balance between human and nature.It also presents the limitations of the thesis,and meanwhile,indicates some possible research perspectives for future study.