Researches on Ecologcial Criticism and Its Limitations

As the global ecological crisis becomes increasingly worse, the ideological trend ofecology is now being pushed forward faster than before. Reflections and thoroughdiscussions on these issues from ecological perspective have become popularmethords adopted by scholars and an important researching direction in the field ofthe humanities and social science. The birth and development of literary criticism arein accordance with current and have far-reaching influences.In spite of the real values of ecological criticism and attentions it gets, there is noguaranty that ecological criticism will have a bright and promising future. Ecologicalcriticism originates from cultural criticism, it corrects and enriches human ideologiesfrom the very basic level; it awakes people to the severe or even fatal defects ofourselves which root deeply in the traditional ideas and cultures and it has profoundsignificances and lasting influences on the promotion of a harmonious and sustainabledevelopment of the whole ecological system. However, ecological criticism shouldnot stay merely as a wish. It needs to be put into practices, to be developed and to beperfected so that it can become a mature theory system. In order to achieve this goal,we need to, on the basis of previous achievements of ecological ideas, solveideological problems that remain unnoticed or unsolved in traditional literature so thatwe can build a up-to-date, effective, mature system of ecological philosophy,ecoaesthetics and ecological criticism. It needs not only “subversion” but also“building”. And theoretical mature is a must. It is an important goal for the futuredevelopment of ecological criticism to have classic and representative theoreticalworks.This thesis is consist of five parts. The first part tries to find a researching angle bydiscussing the origin, development and the final appeal of ecological criticism. Thesecond part explores the ontology research conditions of ecological criticism fromfour aspects. The third part—limits of ecological criticism—is the main part. It tries tofind out the limitations of ecological criticism itself in the developing process fromfive aspects. The fourth part is built on the discussions of previous parts. It providessome suggestions for ecological criticism to setp on a constructive road afterexploring the essence as well as the limitations and problems of ecological criticism.The fifth part is the conclusion. Taking “One foot in field of literature and the otheron the earth” as main ecological ideology, it expresses my hope for the futuredevelopment of ecologcial criticism.