Ecocriticism is still on its academic margins. Nevertheless, depending on the text one
deals with, nature plays a vital role in understanding and analyzing literature.1 The
present essay focuses on the views of nature in the short story “The De Wets come to
Kloof Grange” by Doris Lessing.2
The Dictionary defines nature as “everything that exists in the world
independently of people, such as plants and animals, earth and rocks, and the weather”3.
Yet, in order to analyze nature in its literary context, it is important to point out that
culture has a great impact on nature and its understanding.4 To analyze the view of
nature, it is vital to recognize that the nature-culture distinction is not always absolute
and clear cut.5 There is nature, and culture, and states partaking in both. Barry
introduces the “outdoor environment […] [as a] series of adjoining and overlapping
areas which move gradually form nature to culture”6. To answer the question how
nature is displayed within the story and hence to be able to draw a conclusion from
these particular views of nature, different areas will be used to classify nature in its
cultural context. Taking Barry’s classification7 into account, the view of nature in the
story “The De Wets come to Kloof Grange”8 will in the following be associated with
three distinctive areas. Area one is referred to as the scenic sublime. It includes, for
instance, forests, mountains and rivers. Moreover, there is area two, the countryside,
which implies hills, fields, woods, etc. The greatest impact of culture can be found in
area three, the domestic picturesque. It describes such things as parks and gardens.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Views of Nature in “The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange”
2.1. Area One: The Scenic Sublime
2.2. Area Two: The Countryside
2.3. Area Three: The Domestic Picturesque
3. Conclusion
4. Works Cited
4.1. Primary Texts
4.2. Secondary Literature
4.3. Other Important Titles
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
The primary objective of this research paper is to analyze how the concept of nature is represented within Doris Lessing’s short story "The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange." By applying an ecocritical framework and classifying nature into three distinct categories—the scenic sublime, the countryside, and the domestic picturesque—the paper explores the complex interplay between the characters, their environment, and the social constructions of "nature" and "culture."
- Application of ecocritical literary theory to Doris Lessing’s prose.
- Classification of nature into the scenic sublime, countryside, and domestic picturesque.
- Analysis of the relationship between environmental perceptions and human isolation.
- Examination of the symbolic function of gardens and fences as demarcations of control.
- Comparative analysis of different characters' physical and emotional connections to the land.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Area One: The Scenic Sublime
The environment described in the story which can be classified as area one, considers basically nature beyond the farm and its land. Furthermore, as already pointed out, this environment distinguishes itself from the farmland due to its features (mountains, rivers, etc.). This kind of nature is not at some place far away, but can be seen from the farm house: “[…] in that green-crowded gully were suddenly the tropics: palm trees, a slow brown river that eddied into reaches of marsh or curved round belts of reeds twelve feet high.”9 One aspect of this environment in the story is its hostile, vast character. It appears as if the “tall shadowing bushes […] [were] filled with unnameable phantoms”10. It seems to be dangerous to get in contact with this particular kind of nature: “If they had taken the wrong turning, to the river, they might be bogged in mud to the axles. Down there, in the swampy heat, they could be bitten by mosquitoes and then…”11
She might at this moment be lying with a broken arm or leg; she might be pushing her way through grass higher than her head, stumbling over roots and rocks. She might be screaming for help somewhere for fear of wild animals, for if she crossed the valley into the hills there were leopards, lions, wild dogs. 12
And the river is not only inhabited by crocodiles but coming in contact with the water, one can also get Bilharzia, a life threatening tropical disease.13 The river isn’t referred to as a nice place rather than a “steamy bath of vapours, heat, smells”14. Overall, the environment outside the farm seems to be an “unpleasant place”15. Only watched from the distance, this environment has its bright sides. Then one can see the “exquisite brushwork of trees on the lower slopes”16 or cloud-formations which tower “into a brilliant cleansed sky”17.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the theoretical framework of ecocriticism and outlines the study's focus on the representation of nature in Doris Lessing’s work.
2. Views of Nature in “The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange”: This chapter categorizes the nature depicted in the story into three distinct geographical and cultural areas to analyze their varying levels of cultivation and hostility.
2.1. Area One: The Scenic Sublime: This section details the wild, untamed, and often hostile aspects of the environment, such as the river and tropical features, as viewed from a distance.
2.2. Area Two: The Countryside: This section examines the bush land surrounding the farmhouse, highlighting its perception as an uncomfortable and uninviting space for the protagonists.
2.3. Area Three: The Domestic Picturesque: This section discusses the highly cultivated garden environment, focusing on human intervention, maintenance, and the creation of a "safe haven."
3. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes how the different perspectives on nature reflect the emotional and social distance within the characters' relationships and their coping mechanisms regarding isolation.
4. Works Cited: A comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources used in the research paper.
4.1. Primary Texts: Lists the specific edition of Doris Lessing’s short story used for analysis.
4.2. Secondary Literature: Lists academic works by Peter Barry, Patrick D. Murphy, and Kate Soper that inform the theoretical approach.
4.3. Other Important Titles: Lists additional academic newsletters and critiques relevant to Doris Lessing’s African stories.
Keywords
Ecocriticism, Doris Lessing, The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange, nature, culture, scenic sublime, countryside, domestic picturesque, literary analysis, isolation, African literature, landscape, environment, cultivation, human-nature interaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper fundamentally explores the representation of nature within Doris Lessing’s short story "The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange," utilizing an ecocritical approach to understand how the environment is perceived by the characters.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The analysis is structured around three thematic classifications: the scenic sublime, the countryside, and the domestic picturesque, which represent varying degrees of human interaction with and modification of the land.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to draw conclusions about how the characters' views of nature and their environment mirror their psychological states, personal isolation, and social relationships.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The paper employs a qualitative literary analysis approach based on ecocritical theory, particularly drawing upon the classifications of nature established by Peter Barry.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section investigates the specific depictions of the landscape in the story, comparing the wild, dangerous "sublime" areas with the intensely controlled and "domesticated" garden spaces.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Ecocriticism, Doris Lessing, nature, culture, domestic picturesque, and landscape.
How does the author define the "domestic picturesque"?
The author defines it as nature that has been "built" or heavily cultivated to suit human pleasure, characterized by features like gardens, fountains, and constant maintenance, existing as a sharp contrast to wild nature.
In what way does the paper relate nature to human relationships?
The paper concludes that the characters' need for physical and emotional distance from the "wild" environment mirrors the emotional distance they maintain in their own interpersonal relationships, particularly between the couples in the story.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2009, The Concept of Nature in Literature: Analysis of Doris Lessing’s “The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/146783
