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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Views of Nature in "The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange"
- Area One: The Scenic Sublime
- Area Two: The Countryside
- Area Three: The Domestic Picturesque
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to analyze the different views of nature presented in Doris Lessing's short story "The De Wets come to Kloof Grange". It explores the relationship between nature and culture as depicted in the text, examining the interplay between the wilderness and human intervention.- The impact of culture on the perception of nature
- The concept of the "scenic sublime" and its representation in the story
- The interplay between the hostile and beautiful aspects of nature
- The distinction between cultivated and wild landscapes
- The influence of human activities on the environment
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction
The essay introduces the concept of ecocriticism and its significance in analyzing literary texts. It also defines the term "nature" and highlights the interconnectedness between culture and nature. This section lays the foundation for the analysis by emphasizing the importance of understanding nature in its cultural context.Views of Nature in "The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange"
Area One: The Scenic Sublime
This section analyzes the depiction of the "scenic sublime" in the story. It explores the vastness, hostility, and beauty of the wild environment beyond the farm. The essay examines the contrasting perspectives on this type of nature, portraying it as both a source of danger and wonder.Area Two: The Countryside
This chapter focuses on the view of nature as found on and around the farm. It explores the hostile nature of the bush land and the impact of human activities on the agricultural landscape. The section highlights the tension between the untamed wilderness and the cultivated environment.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key terms and topics explored in this essay include: ecocriticism, nature, culture, scenic sublime, countryside, hostile nature, beauty, agricultural land, human intervention, wilderness, cultivation.- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2009, The Concept of Nature in Literature: Analysis of Doris Lessing’s “The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange”, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/146783
